In an earlier post, I had asked when is zealotry good? Actually, dictionary.com defines zealotry as “excessive zeal”, so perhaps a better question is: “When is it good to be zealous?”
Well, Biceling can certainly tell you the things he often has great zeal for. One look at the banner on the top of this page and you can tell he’s played a lot of computer games, including World of Warcraft. Not only that but he has a passion for all sorts of stuff which he likes to talk about on this blog: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPods, and other fun “techie” and “geeky” stuff.
For other people, the things which they have great zeal or passion for could be their home, or their car, or their job. Still, for other people, it could be making money, or writing free and open source software. Or it could be playing sports.
All these things are certainly enjoyable, but the problem is, they only provide pleasure for a season.
Solomon wrote about this in Ecclesiates:
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:10:11 (NIV)
Understand, Solomon was the richest and most prosperous king Israel had in its entire history. He had everything, and I mean EVERYTHING: wealth, fine food and wine, mansions, power, and hundreds of wives and concubines. And yet Solomon was miserable. Though he had great wealth and possessions, and passion for many things such as knowledge, wisdom, and great works of art and architecture, in the end they all ceased to provide the satisfaction they once did. There was “nothing gained under the sun”, but rather a feeling of emptiness.
We may not be as blessed with riches and possessions the way Solomon was, but we do tend to try to fill the void in our lives with things that we think will make us happy. But are these things really that important in life? I’ve heard the pastor at my church make the following point, which I’ll state a little differently: when you are on your death bed - the last thing in the world you going to want at your side is your computer where you can admire your Level 60 Paladin with his “Tier 3″ armor set. Nor are you going to care about any of your possessions or your money. Usually, it is at the time close to death when we really see what is really important in our life, and that is our relationships, that is, our family, friends, and loved ones.
Even still, our relationships with other people are not perfect. For one thing, life is short. I have been blessed in my life to have a great and loving Mom and Dad, and a terrific sister and brother. But you know what? They’re all getting old, and they won’t be around forever.
Sometimes a relationship can go bad, resulting in friend or a spouse leaving you. Sometimes people that you know will lie to you or treat you badly. While it is important to have relationships other people, you still can’t completely put your trust in them. As God’s word says:
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Friends, there are a lot of fun and cool things I have enjoyed, such as computers, games, technology, music. And though I am not married, there are many times in my life that I thought such a relationship might make me happy. Yet I have come to learn in my life that such things are utterly meaningless and worthless compared to a relationship with God, through his Son Jesus Christ. God will never leave you. He will never grow old and die. His love for you is perfect, and he always knows what is best for you. And he will be around for you long after all your prized possessions on Earth have turned to dust. And with God, you don’t need to worry about the details of your life, no matter how tough it gets. Jesus Himself said it best:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.“ Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV)
With Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you have no need to worry about food, clothes, and all the various things in life to make you happy, because Christ is the ultimate source of your happiness. He is the most important person in my life, and I hope and pray he is the most important person in yours.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Then God bless you! But if you don’t, and you’d like to learn how to have a personal relationship with Him, then I urge you to read this article which I have also linked at the top of this page: How to Get to Know Jesus Christ.
May God bless you all and be with you this week!
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