Christ is Enough

Wow! It has been SUCH a long time since I’ve actually sat down to write a post on here. I apologize for that! I have had so much going on in my life lately and well, writing on this blog took the backseat.

I heard a sermon at church today that really struck a chord with me, and I decided that I wanted to share it with you.

So, let me start by asking a question. And really think about your answer here. What do you go to for happiness? What do you turn to to find satisfaction? It could be anything: food, alcohol, Netflix, anything!

Now let me ask another question. How often have those things provided true joy? Have the effects from those things been long-lasting, or only temporary? My assumption is that they’re temporary. There are very few things that we seek out that lead us to everlasting joy. But still we run to them all the time, still trying to find that happiness that we desire.

In reality, we have so much that should make us happy right? My guess is that you’re reading this on a computer or a phone or tablet of some sort. You most likely have a house with a bed, maybe even a car. We have so much to be thankful for, so much stuff that should give us joy, but we never feel fully content, do we?

But that’s the thing. Everything around us is just stuff. That’s all it will ever be. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s totally fine that this stuff makes us happy! It’s okay to enjoy that extra slice of cake, or enjoy your favorite TV show. But we also have to remember that it’s all temporary. One day, you’ll have to get a new car, or buy a new house. That device you’re using to read this will stop working one day, and you’ll have to get a new one. Nothing that we have is everlasting; it’s all just temporary.

So why then, do we try to find joy in those things? What do we do when those things go away?

We seem to forget that there is one thing that is everlasting, one thing that will never fade, and that’s God. He can provide us with that joy we seek out. He knows how to comfort us when we’re down, and knows how to lift us up even higher when we’re happy. God is the answer.

One way that we can get back on the right path to true joy is through generosity. Have you ever noticed that the happiest people in life tend to be the ones who seem to have the least? It seems like the more people have, the less happy they tend to be.

So instead of trying to do things for yourself, try to give to others instead. Instead of ignoring the homeless man on the side of the road because you want to save that cash in your wallet, be generous and share it with him. I promise that it’s so much more satisfying doing that then spending that money on a cup of coffee for yourself.

And generosity doesn’t just involve stuff or money, it can be done through actions or words as well. Giving someone your time or just talking with them can be exactly what they need, and is so good for the soul. Being kind and generous, in my opinion, is one of the most fulfilling things you could ever do for yourself.

So I want to challenge you with two things for the next week. First, seek out opportunities where you can be generous. Find where people could use some help, and truly focus on the ones you’re helping. I also want to challenge you to give up something that might be distracting you from God. Whether it be alcohol, Netflix, anything that you seek happiness in, try giving it up for a week and instead try to focus on God.

To close, I’d like you to listen to Christ Is Enough by Hillsong, and pray with God. Ask him to help you find true joy, and for Him to be the center of your life.