Why Pursue the Perishable?

Verse of the day: Psalm 4:7-8 You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for You, Lord, only make me dwell in safety.

I find it strange that we who know the Lord, and are born again believers, sometimes find ourselves envying the unsaved and what they have. Why do we, who have gained eternal life, everlasting rewards, and riches and spiritual blessing in Christ, envy that which is corrupt, and perishable? What do the unsaved have that the Lord cannot give us, if He so desires it for us? Sadly, the problem that exists within us is a lack of contentment. The Apostle Paul learned how to be content with whatever state he found himself in while serving the Lord, and he confessed that his ability to be content was rooted in the strength he was given in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:12-13). Jesus told us that we were not to worry, and be satisfied with having clothes and food, and that He would meet our daily needs if we first focused on the things of God (Mt 6:24-34). In this life it always seems like the unsaved and the wicked are usually the ones that prosper, but their end is destruction and we are not to envy their prosperity (Pro 24:1; Ps 73:3, 17-19; Ps 49:16-20). The fact of the matter is that no amount of this world’s wealth or the wicked man’s prosperity can compare to what we have gained in Christ! No amount of money can by the gladness or exceeding joy that God puts in our hearts when we are in Christ; a joy that abounds even in the worst of times. A lifetime of trouble, as a child of God, is far better than a day of goodness in the life of one who is perishing without Jesus (Mt 16:26). We often envy people who, on the surface, seem to be happy; yet, inside they are dying and outwardly they hide their distress. Privately they are tormented, even though publicly they boast or their status in society and flaunt their riches. How do their riches, worldly gain, and elevated status help them when death comes knocking on their door? How does all they have gained help them when a loved one becomes terminally ill or is taken in death? What peace do they have when they lose all their earthly riches; sometime even in the blink of an eye? In the end, those who chase after riches do it for a lifetime, and end up with nothing; sometimes even choosing death (in suicide) over their alleged rich lives (Pro 23:5; 1 Tim 6:17). What we fail to see is that their riches also come with a lot of sleepless nights, which accumulate and result in unbearable stress, sickness, and imprisonment to addictions and ultimate destruction. One of the greatest feelings in the world is to be able to lay our heads on our pillows at night, knowing that our God, who has saved our souls, is in control and we have nothing to worry about, regardless of what circumstances we may be living with at the moment. The end result is that we can sleep peacefully because God is watching over us. Again, there is no amount of this world’s riches that can buy that kind of peace, because it is a peace that can only come from an intimate relationship with Jesus (Jn 14:27). Let us stop focusing on what we think we need to make our lives complete. Instead, let us be satisfied with what God chooses to give us (or not give us), and seek after that which is far better than money, material gain, or high status in society (Heb 13:5). Let us chase after God, His righteousness, and those things that are pleasing to our Him. Let us be satisfied with the fact that we have the Lord and all that we have gained in Him; our heavenly and spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3; 1 Tim 6:6-12).

All that this world has to offer will perish. Only what God has to offer is eternal. Today, He extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).