The goal of human life – what’s the point? What drives you? What’s the endgame? Too many people just coast through life, never questioning their existence. We’re so absorbed in the daily grind that we rarely pause to contemplate the purpose of it all. Why are we here? Let’s rephrase it: “If you had one wish, what would it be?” Your answer likely holds the key to your life’s goal. If you could have anything, what would it be? What fuels your relentless pace? Maybe it’s the pursuit of security, companionship, happiness, or meaningful work. These are the milestones we all strive to achieve. Think back to when you were younger – until you secured a career or a partner, you weren’t interested in much else. We all crave these fundamental aspects of life before we can pursue deeper fulfillment. Once we have these basics in place, our paths diverge in fascinating ways.
If I were to analyze your life using a pragmatic existential test, what would it reveal about you? You might eloquently express your perceived purpose and the goals of your existence, but do your actions truly align with your words? Let’s dig deeper. How do you spend the bulk of your leisure time? Despite the demands of work and daily life, what captures your attention during moments of freedom? Your priorities become evident in these precious hours. Next, consider your thought life. What dominates your mind during relaxation and reflection? Are there recurring themes that consume your mental energy? Lastly, where does the majority of your disposable income go? Once the bills are paid, how do you choose to allocate your resources? Your spending habits provide insight into your true priorities. These questions unveil the reality of your values and aspirations.
If we’ve been truly honest with ourselves and compared our lives to those around us, we’ll likely discover that we’re just blending in. We’re going with the flow and doing what everyone else does, despite falling short of living biblically. We all throw around phrases like “Jesus is the Lord of my life,” but do we truly believe it or simply choose to ignore the lie? The uncomfortable truth is that we let other things take the reins instead of Jesus. This realization stings because it doesn’t stroke our ego, but if it’s the truth, maybe it’s time to reassess our priorities.
In the olden days, people used to believe that if you knew God and He loved you, you would automatically become successful. They also thought that if you weren’t a terrible sinner, you’d be prosperous. They even believed that you could easily spot when someone had done something wrong just by looking at their prosperity. If someone got leprosy, it was definitely because they did something wrong. And if you didn’t have enough food, it was simply your fault for not being spiritual enough. This thinking was prevalent in the traditional Old Testament theology, but eventually, it started to face opposition in various parts of the Bible. The Book of Job, Psalm 73, Ecclesiastes chapter 2, and Ecclesiastes chapter 5 were all direct reactions to this kind of theology.
It’s as if our modern society worships success as its god. We judge individuals, families, denominations, churches, cities, and nations solely based on success. Competition seems to be the driving force in every aspect of our lives – and some may argue that this is even true for church work. The thirst for competition, individual ego, material possessions, and the belief that these are signs of God’s favor, have all become deeply ingrained in us. In Ecclesiastes chapter 5, King Solomon, a man who had everything, tried everything in pursuit of happiness and purpose, only to realize that it was all meaningless, mere vanity. Life, he concluded, is futile.
The idea that knowing God guarantees success, wealth, a life free of diseases, and a peaceful old age ending with a comfortable death is nothing more than wishful thinking. The pursuit of wealth and abundance never brings satisfaction. People become consumed by their pursuit of success and end up as slaves to it. Why is it that people always desire more than they already have? Why is discontentment so pervasive, regardless of one’s possessions?
Many believe that a massive bank account would bring happiness, but the truth is that those who have wealth aren’t content because they perpetually want more. Success inevitably breeds greed and corruption. Anyone who denies this is either incredibly naive or simply refuses to acknowledge that humanity, in its sinful nature, can’t handle success and power without abusing them. It’s far too easy for people to misuse the things of this world.
If you won a lottery today, and news spreads around, you can’t imagine the in-laws, the salesman, the Christian foundations and the godly neighbors that suddenly love you with a passion you never dreamed of. Success breeds moochers. Wealth attracts parasites. “The sleep of a working man is pleasant whether he eats little or much but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.” is true. The more you got, the more you’re worried somebody’s going to take it. The more you got the more you’re worried a natural disaster takes it away in one fell swoop. You know, it amazes me that the man who doesn’t have enough the world offers, but has enough to eat whether a whole bunch or a whole little can sleep well. But the person who has much, oftentimes does not sleep well at all. Much breeds ulcers. Much breeds anxiety. The more you have the more nervous you are about somebody going to take it, or how you’re going to get more.
Another important aspect of success is the fear of loss. It’s often observed that when people hoard their wealth and then lose it due to a bad investment, it ends up hurting them. This can even affect their children, as they may not have anything left to inherit. It’s ironic how some wealthy organizations end up fighting over money, causing distress among their members. Hoarding money can lead to problems, with heirs eagerly waiting for their parents to pass away so they can inherit. The more wealth one has, the more problems it can bring. Ultimately, everyone leaves this world with nothing, just as they came into it. This raises the question of the benefit of working hard for material wealth. Reflecting on the passing of a tycoon like Henry Sy, it’s clear that no one can take their wealth with them when they pass away. We all leave behind everything we’ve accumulated.
I understand that many people work hard to achieve success and happiness, but sometimes they become slaves to their own success. The Bible emphasizes the importance of personal relationships over material possessions, and it discusses success and possessions differently from the teachings of the world. It suggests that the way we use our possessions for God’s purposes determines our true success, rather than the abundance of material things. The content also compares the individualistic and capitalistic mindset of the 21st century with the principles of communism and capitalism, highlighting how the Bible de-emphasizes material wealth.
The New Testament teaches us to be careful and watch out for any kind of greed. Life does not depend on having lots of things. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 shows us that people are more important than possessions, whether it’s power, influence, or stuff. The believers in the early church shared everything they had and made sure everyone’s needs were met. They didn’t claim that anything they had was just for them, but shared everything. This shows the importance of putting others first and not being focused on owning things. It’s about being willing to share and help others, even if it means sacrificing what we have. This kind of sharing is different from the way the world operates. Spending everything on ourselves and our pleasures is selfish and goes against the teachings of the Bible.
God didn’t promise us success, wealth, or good health in this world. He knows many of us can’t handle success, so giving it to us would be a curse. The Bible doesn’t say that being wealthy is bad, but it does say that it’s harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Trusting in worldly success is a problem because it means we’re trusting in ourselves instead of God. God wants us to focus on our character and relationships with others, but we often prioritize material possessions. The world teaches us that having things will make us happy, but God says that true happiness comes from believing in and knowing Him. Sadly, the church has twisted God’s teachings about material possessions.
We’ve become so consumed by crass materialism that we’re utterly oblivious to the real issues at hand. Blinded by our greed, we’ve distorted, commercialized, and self-centered every aspect of life. Humanity is inherently selfish, relentlessly pursuing personal gain without regard for others. We delude ourselves into believing that possessions, power, and success are the keys to happiness. Our relentless focus on the self has been orchestrated by our culture, and we’ve naively allowed it to ensnare us. This is the true tragedy of our existence!
Our Life as a Witness
Do you realize that our lives show others what we believe? We all face challenges like selfishness, pride, and the pursuit of success. As Christians, we need to make sure our priorities right. Ignoring these challenges is still a choice. Our lives show others what we believe. What are we showing them? We need to live in a way that reflects our beliefs. Where do our priorities lie? How can we live differently in a society that values material wealth? How can we show others a different way to live? One way is to step away from excessive consumerism and embrace a simpler lifestyle for the sake of our faith. We should change the way we use the world’s resources and give more to support God’s work. This giving shouldn’t only be financial, but also in the way we use our time and energy. What we prioritize in our lives and how we live reflects who we are in Christ.
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