As we are all human, I am confident everyone on this message board struggles to some degree with placing themselves above God. Recently in my college Bible study (by recent I mean within the last 3 months) we discussed a concept that I was aware of, but never really acknowledged, as to make it real...situational happiness. Basically it is the idea that if blank happens, then you will be happy. Ex: As soon as I get out of college, get a job, start a family, I will be happy. It is the idea of as soon as. God wants us to live today...not as soon as. A friend reminded me of this and how it plagues our lives. Here is some encouragement to those who need it (including myself)
My pastor loves to remind the congregation to set our eyes on eternal matters. Do not worry about things of this world. Yet I guarantee the majority of Christians (not just church people...but Christians) have at one put made their God money (just to illustrate my point). The point of wanting more money is quite simple...temporary satisfaction. Could it be that this is why Christ said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man get into Heaven? Even if your goal is to support your family, to put money above anything has NO eternal significance. Money truly embodies the sinful nature of this world.
So really we just need to find God in everything, whether it is at church, worshipping him, or it is on the football field, playing a pick-up game...you know as well as I do He is everywhere, He is in everything, we just need to look up.
Another word for temporary satisfaction, or situational happiness, is sin. It is just sugar-coated sin. If it is not for God's glory, it is for our own. If it is for our own glory it is sin. Anything for God's glory is eternal, the antithesis of this temporary satisfaction. We are here for such a short time, it is insignificant (as hard as it is to accept) what we aquire here. If we place our treasures in Heaven, place our lives' value in God, then we experience true joy...the foundation of true happiness.
So look up. See the big picture. This life is for God...enjoy it, but do not forget you have a specific eternal purpose. What we do in this life, echoes in eternity. (I hope I didnt misquote Russell Crowe there).
Good luck, pray for each other. We have a long battle ahead, but luckily we are free...it has already been won.
My pastor loves to remind the congregation to set our eyes on eternal matters. Do not worry about things of this world. Yet I guarantee the majority of Christians (not just church people...but Christians) have at one put made their God money (just to illustrate my point). The point of wanting more money is quite simple...temporary satisfaction. Could it be that this is why Christ said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man get into Heaven? Even if your goal is to support your family, to put money above anything has NO eternal significance. Money truly embodies the sinful nature of this world.
So really we just need to find God in everything, whether it is at church, worshipping him, or it is on the football field, playing a pick-up game...you know as well as I do He is everywhere, He is in everything, we just need to look up.
Another word for temporary satisfaction, or situational happiness, is sin. It is just sugar-coated sin. If it is not for God's glory, it is for our own. If it is for our own glory it is sin. Anything for God's glory is eternal, the antithesis of this temporary satisfaction. We are here for such a short time, it is insignificant (as hard as it is to accept) what we aquire here. If we place our treasures in Heaven, place our lives' value in God, then we experience true joy...the foundation of true happiness.
So look up. See the big picture. This life is for God...enjoy it, but do not forget you have a specific eternal purpose. What we do in this life, echoes in eternity. (I hope I didnt misquote Russell Crowe there).
Good luck, pray for each other. We have a long battle ahead, but luckily we are free...it has already been won.
