“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalms 73:25-26 NKJV
Have you ever desired something so badly that you thought you could not be happy if you didn’t get it? Perhaps you wished for a bicycle, a specific toy, or a video game as a child because you believed that was all you needed to be happy. Were you completely satisfied when you eventually got what you wanted? Did you stop wanting other things in your life? Likely not.
It is human nature to seek out things that will bring us joy. Everyone seeks that “special” something that can bring them happiness and satisfy their desires. The harsh reality is that we will never find true and lasting fulfilment in people or worldly possessions because God did not create us to derive joy from earthly pleasures. As a result, nothing and no one on this planet will ever be sufficient for us. All of these things, at best, will provide us with fleeting pleasure; they will never fully satisfy our thirst.
In Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT), Apostle Paul is emphasizing the character of the New Man in Christ Jesus. He says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
We should focus our hearts and affections on things above—on Christ! If thoughts of Jesus and His kingdom do not occupy a significant space in your heart, your true affections and devotions are most likely directed elsewhere.
That isn’t to say that desiring a car, a job, or a child, for example, is inherently bad. We have a good Father who is concerned about us and our lives down to the smallest detail. As a result, it is acceptable to communicate with Him about your wants and needs. However, it becomes a problem when you make these things an idol, elevating them above Christ and expecting them to bring you the fulfilment that only He can.
God desires that we live well on earth, but He does not want us to be consumed by desires for earthly things. He desires that we be satisfied, but most importantly, that we are satisfied IN HIM. So that even if we lost everything, our joy would remain intact because it is firmly rooted in the immutable Christ! What a perspective! Christ alone is our greatest joy!
Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 42-43, Matthew 13:18-43