Psalms 4:7-8, The Message

“Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say, “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end, I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together.”

One truth that I believe we can all agree on is that every single possession that a person has, no matter how expensive, how well made, or how rare, will one day crumble and be no more. People build large and extravagant homes, only for them to meet the wrecking ball. People buy expensive and flashy cars, only for them to lay in a scrap yard one day. People purchase expensive designer clothes, only for them to be thrown out in the trash eventually. It would be pretty easy to make an argument that there are many people in this world who are spending their entire lives chasing after garbage. One other fact I know is that I was once one of them.

For much of my life I have sought to gain things in this world. I knew what I liked and when I found something that I liked and enjoyed I would go all in on it. I would spend so much time researching it, planning for it, saving for it until it became a bonafide obsession. Without fail, though, within a few months of obtaining the objects of my obsession I would inevitably begin to slowly lose interest. The excitement would begin to fade and a year later the things I had invested so much time, energy, and money in would be laying on a shelf in the basement collecting dust. 

Why are so many of us so fixed on trying to find our joy and contentment in the things of this world? This is especially hard to understand when we realize that the true source of these things is not hidden and is freely available to anyone. The truth is that the only source of joy, peace, and contentment is a relationship with God. When we have been reconciled into a real relationship with our Father and Creator we will experience life in a way that cannot be found in the things of this world. Where the things of this world lead ultimately to the trash head, a relationship with God will ultimately lead to an eternity of love and acceptance. There is simply no comparison. 

I still enjoy hobbies, and I still enjoy learning about new things. I still have tremendous fun as I get to participate in the hobbies that I have. However, in my heart I know that my focus is no longer upon the things that I have, but instead upon the One who has given them to me. My joy does not come as a result of the gifts, but instead from the knowledge that I know that my Creator loves me and came to rescue me from my sin and the death that is found in this world. I want to ask you today, what is your source of joy?