If I were to put a title to this thought today it would be Dissatisfaction leads to vain pursuit.
One of my pet peeves, and it is something I have staunchly opposed for as long as I can remember is the so-called “health/wealth” (un)gospel. It is heresy born from the pit of hell. Its basic teaching is God wants one healthy and wealthy and God will give it to us if we name it and claim it. “God, I want that new, expensive car” and so it will be mine. “God, I claim your healing” and it’ll be mine. Or something as silly and asinine as Joel once said about a parking spot at the mall. He claimed one close and it would be so. How about a perfectly healthy person walking and leaving the ones up close for those who really need it? Now, I don’t have a problem of praying and believing that God’s will be done, but to make a claim like that takes some brass.
Sadly, what it show more than anything-besides presuming upon God-is my displeasure with my current state. Dissatisfaction. Discontentment. It’s a failure to realize that no matter my “state,” God is there with me. I have no problem with someone desiring to better themselves. Go for it! FOR THE RIGHT REASON. But if that desire is fueled by jealousy, envy, anger, dissatisfaction, or other emotions like them, then the pursuit borders on greed. Greed = trouble.
Equally sad is in the pursuit of this golden ring, the things which really matter -love, joy, peace and the other fruit of the Spirit-often take a back seat or go by the wayside. They are seen as non-essential. Those qualities, those fruit, are the things I really should be pursuing. They are that which really matters. If I’m going to go after the ring, if I’m going to name and claim something, let it be love, joy, peace, etc. Dissatisfaction leads to satisfaction as I pursue the intangibles.
“Father, help me to realize what is really important. Having material things is not. Let my heart not be pursuing earthly satisfaction but godly praise. Help me to focus on You and Your plan not me and what I want or think I need.”
Wise, wise words, Bill. In this age of instant gratification, yours is a message that needs to be shared.
Thanks Pam. I know it is one I need to learn better.
In an effort to gain more “stuff”‘, I feel something must be given up. When choosing to spend money on “X”, that money cannot be spent on “Y”. The time spent to accumulate wealth must be taken from time spent on other pursuits. Has God blessed me, absolutely, but blessings often are not measured in the monetary value that society measures them. I would do well to remember that material possessions will ultimately have no value. I would do well to remember that working to obtain material possessions can actually leave a deficit in other areas.
Good reminder today Bill!
That last statement speaks volumes Ryan. “I would do well…” Sometimes it is such a huge deficit.
Amen, Bill! Let us pursue the intangibles that will bring God’s peace to our hearts and minds.
Blessings!
Let’s start that revolution Martha!
Well said, Bill. The things of this world that matter most to our Father should be what we strive for first.
And I’m with you about the narccistic mind set that thinks that the power and Creator behind the universe is some kind of Jeannie in a bottle.
Sadly, I think you have put your finger on it my friend-a narccisistic mind.