Rejecting Worldly Ambitions

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6). Within every man and woman is a hunger and thirst only God can satisfy. That's why Jesus said, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Sadly, most people search for happiness in the wrong places. The prodigal son in Luke 15 is one example. He turned from God to pursue sinful pleasures, but soon discovered that sin cannot satisfy a hungering soul. That's when he returned to his father's house, where he was given a great feast--a picture of salvation. The rich fool in Luke 12 thought that amassing possessions was the key to happiness, saying to himself, "What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops? . . . This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (vv. 17- 21). Unlike the prodigal son, the rich fool never turned to God in repentance. Consequently he lost everything. The rich fool is typical of many people today: they ignore Christ and attempt to fill the void with worldly pleasures. Most are oblivious to the eternal peril that awaits them if they don't repent. Those who love God shun worldliness, pursue righteousness, and know the satisfaction that comes from pleasing Him. That's the essence of the Sermon on the Mount: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all [you need] will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). Keep that goal uppermost in your mind as you face the challenge of each new day. Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God that He satisfies the deepest desires of your heart. For Further Study: Read Daniel 4:28-37. What was Nebuchadnezzar's sin? How did God punish Him? How did Nebuchadnezzar respond after being punished? From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.