Not everything this world offers us is bad. There's nothing wrong with having goals and achievements and enjoying the good things of this life, as long as we have the right motive and seek to honor and obey God in everything. For other sinful things that God warns us to stay away from, of course we should steer clear of those. But the Bible teaches us that what will truly satisfy the longing in our hearts and matter for eternity is pursuing God.
We are most satisfied when we are growing our knowledge of God, loving Him and receiving His love, and living according to His will. Remember, the things of this life--good or bad--can't replace relationship with Jesus. If you've never considered that before or if you've just simply lost sight of that truth lately, determine in your heart to seek Him first once again.
1 John 2:15-17 (NLT): Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Lyrics
All the times that I worked hard because I believed
That life could have meanin' through things I've achieved
You knew I was lookin' for You
Every time I thought romance might fill up the hole
That incomplete feelin' still ached in my soul
Oh, You knew I was lookin' for You
Down a hundred highways of empty pursuit
And a thousand foolish things I went through
Didn't know it back then, but now I do
I was lookin' for You, I was lookin' for You
When I couldn't find comfort in the things I could buy
When the party was over and the bottle was dry
Oh, You knew I was lookin' for You
Oh, and I went searchin'
This article was originally published on KTSY.org.
