I used to think that having the latest gadget or earning a lot of money could give me joy and make me feel complete but instead of being whole upon acquiring material possessions, the more I felt the hole in my heart get bigger.
I ‘m not alone in this, while others consider fame, success or relationships to make them complete. We have different reasons why we run after the things in this world but one thing is clear: apart from God, it is impossible to have joy and to feel whole.
Jeremiah 45:5
And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.
To seek great things for ourselves often leads us to frustration and desperation–the ‘just-a-little-bit-more’ attitude, no contentment, always wanting to have more. We might think that our security depends on our fortune, or our identity to our fame or relationships but it doesn’t work that way. Until we realize that everything in this world is just temporary, we would continue on going for things that would never last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
It is written in Matthew 6: 21 that for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What we value the most takes the biggest chunk of our heart and most of the time we are not aware that we have replaced God in our hearts by going after worldly desires, passions and possessions. If we don’t align our needs and wants to God’s will, our lives will be an endless cycle of nothingness.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
If we only take the time to seek Him first, it would be a joy to know that He alone can make us complete. Nothing in this world (not even our relationships) could ever come close to the joy, security, peace and love only God can give.
