I was laying in bed last night thinking about something that I have heard these past few years in church, and in most of the books I read. (John Piper, Randy Alcorn). Nothing in this life will satisfy you. Nothing. I remember hearing this for the first time while I was in college at The University of South Alabama. Our college minister, Shane Black, talked one night about how nothing satisfies. I was in the middle of my college baseball career that was headed down a rough road and watching my childhood dreams slowly being crushed. Something hit me and for some reason God used that in my life and still does. It never fails that God usually reveals something to me and then it takes about 5-10 years for me to get it. (Oh, that's what he means) I just like anyone else still to this day struggle with the belief that something in my life will bring me some sort of happiness, something this world has to offer will "satisfy" me. Even when I know nothing will, when push comes to shove, and I am living my life, not typing on a computer, I tend to fall back into the sin and disbelief that this world has something to offer me. Proverbs 26:11 –Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. There are quite a few times in my life that I have experienced great success or what the world would call pivitol points in ones life. Going from High School to collge, now if I can just get that scholarship, then professional ball, then degree, then masters, then the right job, then if I could just get married, then children, then start of over doing that same thing through my own children. Then on a more personal level of success. Winning the high school baseball championship. Personal success and acolades, all-star teams, newspaper clippings, all-district teams, and school records. The funny thing is I was never satisfied. If I achieved it, I wanted more. I wanted the next level. None of it ever was what I though it was going to be. The excitement, if there was any, was so short lived. Fleeting, fading, non-existant.I've grown to realize that this is exactly what our culture does, Christians not excused. We set up our lives in such a way that we truly are seeking happiness, but trying to get it fulfilled by things that can't do the job. Have you ever wondered why celebrities take on more jobs when it seems like they have three already? Why they have to have more than one motorcycle, car, house, etc... Why they have to dabble in every form of entertainment ( singing, acting, producing, writing, television, films). Why people kill themselves when they are healthy, successful, and have more money than what they know to do with. Why do guys like Brett Farve, Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, George Foreman, Roger Clemens, Bob Cousy, Mario Lemieux, and Sugar Ray Leonard come out of retirement for more? I think I know, because I feel it on a much smaller level. They have gone to the top, success was there's yet it didn't seem to be enough. Where do you go from the top with this incorrect view? My main concern here is the way we raise our children. When it comes to our kids, why do we push them in the areas we do. Sure all parents want their kids to be happy. We are wired that way as people, God created us to seek happiness and be satisfied. As believers we all know that the only true happiness and joy comes from God and his kingdom. So why do we encourage our kids, push our kids, force our kids into some of the things we do. I believe most of this comes from what we call "extra curricular activities." Sports, dance, band, etc...Why do we encourage our kids or hope our kids do well and spend their whole lives chasing after this things that won't give them eternal happiness. Sure it can be exciting, you learn great lessons through these avenues, but don't you think most of the heart ache could have been avoided if we taugh our kids how to view this stuff. How to not make it the end goal. For if they were to get there, how despressing a life would it be. You encouraged your child to seek happiness in something it will never find happiness in. It didn't work for you, why do you think it will work for them? What if we taught our kids from the beginning what will bring them happiness in this life and the next? What if we taught them that it will look completely opposite to what the culture tells them? What if we told them that it's all very tempting and many times they will fall to the temptation? What if we lived our lives in such a way that they saw an example of this in our relationships, in the home, in our bank account, and in our speech? What if they saw us fall to the temptations of world and saw us repent and ask Christ to show us the true treasure again? What if they were able to enjoy their talents, know who they came from, but not make it the most important thing about them? I pray for my own family and someday my own children, that most of all when they remember the teachings of their earthly father, that not only in my words, but mainly in my actions, they will see a father who points them to true happiness, true satisfaction. In Christ alone.
