There are many things we can chase in life, from new trinkets, to achievements, reputation, success, wealth, power, friendships, respect and so on.
These things all have allure and they seem like things to be pursued. We can be envious of those who have more of those things than we do. We can drop what we are doing to chase after something that seems accessible to us.
Yet the testimony of many people is that when they achieved their dream it turned out to be empty. Attaining that once-in-a-lifetime moment or that highest achievement, left them feeling unfulfilled.
Isn’t that the way it is in most people’s lives. Most of those who are currently hoping for something better have already achieved many landmarks in their life. It seems that once we achieve our current ambition we will replace it with another, then another.
We are often on a treadmill of endless pursuit of happiness.
What that experience tells us is that the things we are chasing don’t satisfy. The things we think have value don’t turn out to have the value we expect. The things we are chasing won’t bring us the benefit we are hoping for.
It is rare to find someone who is wonderfully content and satisfied with life. Often those who express such a state are older people who have decided to be content with what they achieved, despite what they did not accomplish.
Many people are driven by agitating passions which stir inside them, driving them to an endless and vain pursuit of resolution.
One reason we don’t achieve what we long for is that we look to human values. The Bible calls that our ‘flesh’. Our human or fleshly desires are to satisfy our inner urges, our lusts, and gratify our pride. If we pursue those things the only fruit we get is a type of rottenness, instead of a bunch of good fruit.
“He who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption (rottenness)” Galatians 6:8
So that’s why chasing those things doesn’t satisfy. It only produces rotting fruit, not good fruit. So we then pick another goal and chase after that.
The Apostle Paul tells that we don’t owe our flesh any respect at all, because it never delivers on its promise.
“So then, brothers, we have no debt to the flesh, to live according to its impulses. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your bodily impulses, you will live.” Romans 8:12,13
Many people have chased success in academics, sport, arts and enterprise and given priority to that pursuit. Often we hear of people who finally stopped to see that they had paid a high price in terms of family relationships, their health and their future happiness, because of their devotion to their dream.
We also hear of people who finally step off the treadmill, putting aside their potential, so they can work on family and marriage relationship.
As a young man dreaming of working in the media I was struck one day by the announcement that a popular television newsreader quit his prime-time television post so he could spend time with his young family. He realised he was never home to have dinner with his children and he decided they were more important than his post on the news desk.
I was shocked, thinking him to be crazy to give up such a valuable career role.
Those who make such a move are abandoning the lure of success and returning to something they hold in higher value. They can be returning to family, as that newsreader did, or returning to their marriage. They may also be returning to their faith and their desire to serve God, putting career in second place.
Obviously things have different value. We get to choose where we put our priority and which things we will elevate over others.
The highest value in the universe is relationship with God. Knowing the Love of God in our lives, and being in relationship with God as our Heavenly Father, is the highest possible joy offered throughout our entire lives.
Jesus talked of people abandoning house, lands and family for the higher value of serving God.
“Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold.” Mark 10:29,30
There are many testimonies of people who once knew God and who were lured by this world to chase their personal dreams, instead of living for God. These people may have become famous, or may have trashed their life in their empty pursuits, but a common factor is their return to God and to God’s love at some time.
How wonderful for someone who has been out in the cold, living an empty life chasing elusive dreams, to come home to God’s Love! How wonderful it is when a lost and shivering lamb is found by its shepherd and brought back to the warmth and loving care of the fold. How wonderful when those who have been chasing empty and vain things return to enjoy things that are truly enriching and truly satisfying.
Friends, I don’t know where each of you stands right now, but I urge you, in Jesus’ name, to return to the God Who loves you and Who invites you to enjoy Him as your Heavenly Father.
I invite you and urge you to Return to Love.
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