by Larry Burkett
Isaiah 1, 2, 3, 4
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (1 John 2:16).
When we get caught up in the desire to satisfy our senses, we become vulnerable to a lifestyle that has as its goal the accumulation of money, because, if we are to have the things we see advertised, we will need to have money to purchase them. God equates this commitment to riches with sin.It's not that God wants us to live in poverty; neither does He mean for us to be drawn into the allure of advertising. Our lives should not be characterized by the extravagance and foolish sensualism promoted by the mass media.
Solomon explains the result of indulgence in Ecclesiastes 2: "And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. . . .and behold all was vanity and striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun."
We deeply desire something, work for it, finally get it, and shortly thereafter we experience boredom or emptiness. This is why God wants to fulfill the desires of our spirits--because these other desires never can be totally gratified. They always bring with them the quest for more.
But, when our spirits are satisfied, we have peace. If you haven't committed your desires to the Lord, do it now.
"Thou, O Lord, hast made me glad by what Thou hast done, I will sing for joy at the works of Thy hands" (Psalm 92:4).
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