Thoughts for Life: #2 Searching for Happiness in the Wrong Places

Billy Graham: Over 2,500 years ago the prophet Isaiah looked out on a people who longed for happiness and security but were looking for it in the wrong places.

They were running to the marketplace and to places of amusement, spending their money madly for things which brought them no permanent satisfaction. (Google image, Isaiah praying)

He stood before them one day and gave them the Word of God:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,
and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;
yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and
without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for
that which is not bread? and your labour for that
which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me,
and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul
delight itself in fatness" (Isaiah 55:1-2).

Isaiah didn't speak negatively and berate them for their sins in this particular sermon. He didn't grab the bottle from the drunkard's hand, he didn't lecture them about the evils of gluttony, he didn't shame them for their immoral practices.

He overlooked that for the moment. He simply asked them:

"Are you getting what you want out of life? Why do
you spend your money for that which is not bread
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?"

If Isaiah were living today, he would probably stand at Forty-second and Broadway in New York, in the Loop in Chicago, or on Marker Street in San Francisco and simply ask the milling, restless throngs:

"Are you getting what you want?"

He would say to the eminently successful financier who commands his fleets and controls his industries:

"Are you getting what you want?"

He would say to the laborers and workmen of America who are enjoying the highest standard of living in history:

"Are you getting what you want?"

He would ask the youth of America:

"Are you getting what you want?"

He would say to the consumers of America who have the best homes, the most comfortable furniture, the finest food, the cleverest gadgets, and the smoothest, most powerful automobiles:

"Are you getting what you want?"

(Chapter one, pp.3-4)

THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS

By Billy Graham

Click on title to purchase

Copy right 2011 by Billy Graham

Used by permission of

Thomas Nelson

www.thomasnelson.com

Let's pray-

Father, the prophet Isaiah saw that his people longed for happiness and security, but were looking in all the wrong places to attain them.
The marketplace, places of amusement and spending their money for things which brought only temporary satisfaction weren't helping them find it.
He didn't speak negatively and berate them for their sins, and he didn't lecture them about the evils of gluttony or shame them for their immoral practices. He simply asked them if they were getting what they wanted out of life?
If he lived today, what would he ask us today? Is it true that we find happiness and security in what we put our efforts into, to find them?
May we examine our ways, and seek God's answers to our need to desire and have happiness and security, and may we find that Jesus is the Real answer to our everything!
I pray this in His name. Amen

Today's Bible verses-

JAMES 1:4 "Let patience have its perfect work, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Colossians 3:12-14, (NLT) “Since God chose

you to be the holy people he loves, you must

clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,

kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and

forgive anyone who offends you. Remember,

the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which

binds us all together in perfect harmony.”

Today's quote-

~ Oswald Chambers- "When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place the blame on someone else. That is always a trap of Satan. When you seem to have no answer, there is always a reason— God uses these times to give you deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you."
(From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition)

Today's popular post-

Exemplary Christianity

James H. Cagle: "Christians at Thessalonica were talked about by everyone. The talk wasn’t about the size of the church, its church activities, or how much money
they made selling their religious paraphernalia . . . "

Words of wisdom-

~ It's the belief in God, that brings the miraculous.

~ He wants us to get to the place He has in mind for us.

Today's question-

How does my freedom in Christ affect others?

Some questions to ask:

1. What is best for my brother and sister in Christ?
2. What is the mission of Christ?
3. What's best for me to do as a Christian?

What we need to ask is, "What's wisdom for right now?" There were times when decisions were made, that we now regret, so asking this question can help us prevent more such decisions:

There are two kinds of wisdom:
-knowledge that puff us up
-knowledge in love, which builds up others.

True knowledge passes from not knowing something, to having God's knowledge, as He loves and fully knows us. (1 Cor. 8:3). We're to take care that what we do doesn't offend or create a stumbling block to others. Romans 6:7 says we are now slaves to God, and we're to prefer the welfare of our brothers and sisters over our own.

How can we strengthen others around us?

By walking in love, putting others first, and by being careful that our freedom in Christ does not become a stumbling block by our behavior and manner of living as professing Christians.

Upcoming posts-

Is Pain Punishment?

7th- Saturday's post by Merlin Carothers

#3 God Has the Answer
9/10- Tuesday's post by Billy Graham

#4 The 3 Things We Search For
12th- Thursday's post by Billy Graham

Supernatural Power
14th- Saturday's post by J. Judson Taylor