Friday, November 19, 2010

Want to be Happier? Part 2

In my last blog I mentioned a secular study which demonstrates that people are happier in church than in the mall. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about why this is so. The other week I was reading the book of Isaiah and came upon this passage in chapter 55: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not break, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.
God is making an incredible statement to us. We can receive from Him food and drink that will truly satisfy us. How? By meeting the deepest needs of our lives, the need of our soul. I can't tell you how many depressed people I meet in the course of my day, not just in counseling, but in my travels to the Wawa, the gas station, among my neighbors. People just gritting their teeth to get though the work week, living for the weekend, or the next buzz to drown their sorrows. God is offering us something much more satisfying and profound, delight at the deepest level of our being, our soul.
How do I know material things are not where it is at when it comes to ultimate satisfaction? Because we are never satisfied. You get a Lexus, and then you see a BMW, so you get that car. And then comes a Ferrari, and you decide you just have to get that instead. And so it goes. Plus, stuff breaks, falls apart, needs to be maintained. And even if you keep it in good condition, someone comes and steals it. Many products do come with a warranty. I even bought something the other day with a "life time warranty." That's great, but I can show you something even better, an eternal guarantee. Look at the next thing God says in Isaiah 55:
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant. Everlasting, that means forever! No wonder people are happier in church compared to the mall!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

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