Well, it’s a new month and the southeast made it through the horror of Hurricane Helene. A lot of people where I live lost everything; some in my community still have no water or power. Downed trees and debris still line streets where I live.
I FEEL grateful that my situation wasn’t as bad as others in the Southeast. My biggest hurdles were dealing with my insurance to replace appliances that were damaged as a result of a power surge during the hurricane and waiting for my Internet services to come back online two weeks after Helene tore through Georgia.
During the early days when I had no power or internet, I decided to slow down and reflect on God’s goodness throughout my life. I am not saying that I have gotten everything I have wanted in life or achieved what I was confident I would by this point in my life, just grateful that our God has always been faithful, even when I haven’t been.
Even after I chased after temporary happiness and earthly greatness, God didn’t give UP on me and gave me another chance to pursue Him and His will. Too many people never learn the wisdom of pursuing God’s will over chasing their selfish desires: relationships, success, dreams, and money lead people down a dead-end road that only disappoints.
Even before the fall in the garden, man chased after more than God had given him (Genesis 3:1-14.) Mankind’s selfish desire for more caused him to chase after temporary greatness and happiness, to hell with the devil.
The wisest man to live instructs us chasing things and earthly greatness are meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:14.) I had to learn this truth the hard way; it is foolish to keep chasing after the temporary things of this world that won’t us, not even 10k followers.
Today, many Christians follow the ways of the world by chasing after temporary satisfy and greatness that lead us away from God just like Adam and Eve willingly disobeyed God by chasing more in the garden.
Man’s sinful nature has corrupted our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 51:5-10, Proverbs 26:23, Matthew 12:34, Romans 1:21.) The world is always chasing after comfort and pleasure, but God’s people cannot chase everything in our hearts or our flesh’s desire, because we belong to God and His Kingdom (Romans 12:1-4.)
This world cannot satisfy the desires of God’s people, just like any man or woman can’t satisfy the needs and wants of a spouse other than who they are married to. When God’s people look to the world for its satisfaction, we become adulterous people (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, James 4:4.)
Adultery happens when a spouse wants more than they already have at home; adultery is looking for satisfaction outside of the home. God’s people need to stop chasing this world and their hearts of flesh, we need to look to God to satisfy us and provide our needs because this world and our flesh won’t stop wanting more (Proverbs 27:20, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Habakkuk 2:5, Hebrews 13:5.)
When I was younger and walked away from God and lived in the world for six years, I chased after whatever made me happy and now I wish I could take it all back. The older I grow, the more I regret those years I spent chasing the things of this world.
I chased pleasure in the form of sex, alcohol, and drugs and none of it satisfied me, they only left me wanting more Then. I chased after success, work, possessions, and friends, most of which I lost after my accident, except a few close friends.
Now, I refuse to chase after friendships, relationships, popularity, jobs, dreams, and possessions, because God’s best is too good. I am old enough to know that I brought nothing into this world with me and none of it will leave with me (Job 1:21, Ecclesiastes 5:15.)
Unfortunately becoming a Christian doesn’t remove the desire for more from our sinful hearts. The flesh still wants what it wants (Romans 7:15-18, Galatians 5:17.) Too many Christians deceive themselves that their hearts are magically cured and less sinful.
They ignore Scripture and our Lord’s warnings about their corrupt hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23.) There are entire ministries and conservative political movements dedicated to helping God’s people become great in a temporary kingdom of earth.
Their minds and hearts are set on an earthly kingdom, not a heavenly kingdom and they have turned from the Christian faith like I once did (Matthew 16:33, Romans 8:6, Philippians 3:20, Colossians 3:1-25.)
Many of God’s people have failed to learn the truth that contentment is greater than chasing what you want that never satisfies us (Luke 12:15, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5.) Let go, contentment in God is the heart of worship (Psalm 23:1-6.)
The first-century church didn’t grow or expand by pursuing earthly greatness or temporary riches but by hardships. Remember the disciples weren’t the best or brightest students of the Jewish education system.
Jesus called them from their ordinary and humble lifestyles and livelihoods; He saw their potential, not their pride and possessions. I still believe God chooses the foolish things of this world to do great things for God’s kingdom, His Kingdom come (Matthew 11:25, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, James 2:5)
Jesus called them and taught them to be humble, not great. Humility helps us to be content; pride hinders us from becoming truly great. Why do so many Christians forget that God’s ways are not like this world?
When we humble ourselves and learn to be content, God can do great things in us and through our lives, look at the Disciples and even the puny little shepherd boy David (1 Samuel 16:7.) Jesus humbled Himself so that God could do great things through His sacrifice (Philippians 2:7-8.) Jesus was content to do His Father’s will and so should we (Matthew 26:39.) Do you see why chasing is less than contentment?
