Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalms 84:5-7 (NIV)
Our worldly blessings and comforts can be very limited in their ability to truly bring peace and satisfaction to the soul, Amen? They were never meant to be our all in all. Nice, but not necessary. That position belongs to God. It has always belonged to go. Seriously, what comfort do riches bring in sickness? Money cannot bring health to the bones nor even heal a wounded spirit or broken heart for that matter. We will not be crying for more money on our death beds.
Even kings have been made miserable or discontent over the smallest infraction of an underling. Think King Ahab pining away over Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings Chapter 21. Wanting what we cannot have or having what we do not want has broken many a soul. And Jesus says, “Come to me”. All these other things are perishing. All these other things will never fully satisfy. They are like chasing after the wind. It does us well to remember, if we lack Jesus, we lack all. And if we have Him we have all. He is every good thing and with Him we fully enjoy all that His mighty Hand allows – His sufficiency meets our needs. When God is our portion, we are no longer needy. He fills us fully and completely. In Him is fullness of joy, unsearchable riches, righteousness, and rivers of pleasure. And He is rest for the weary soul. “Come to me” is His mantra, and “I will give you rest” says He.
Jesus asks a very penetrating question to His followers in Luke 9:25 (NIV): “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” It matters greatly how we live this one life we have been given. We are all held accountable to God for our lives and indeed, one day fire will test the quality of our works here. We are not our own, we have been bought with a high price and we are to honor God with our bodies and how we live our lives. It does matter. And wisdom is always proved right by her actions. Jesus tells us the way we are to go. We follow Him. We walk as He walked through His power and for our good and His glory. He poured out His life as a ransom for many and He calls His followers to do likewise in whatever area He has placed us. And in following Him, we live the life we were created to live.
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26 (NIV)