Tuesday, September 25, 2012

September 26, 2012

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control" II Peter 1:5-6


I mentioned that I observe three primary ways of approaching life:

Those who are self-dedicated
Those who self-medicate
Those who are self-controlled

Today I want to work with the first approach - self-dedication.

What do I mean by self-dedication?

A self-dedicated person is one who is primarily dedicated to satisfying himself, his wants, his needs, his appetites, his whims and his pleasures. His credo is:

If it feels good I’ll do it!

If I want I will get it!
 
Life is short and I want to max it out.
 
Hugh Hefner has been one of the leading proponents and adherants of this hedonistic life-style. These people seem to believe that happiness comes from the outside in
 
In the New Testament Jesus told a story of a very wealthy man who was doing so well that he ordered bigger barns to be built to hold his bountiful bumper-crop! With so much wealth he now had no worries and decided he would live a self-indulgent life. But he didn't make it through the night and his life ended.
 
Jesus called that man a fool.
 
You and me and Hugh Hefner and this Rich Fool all have one thing in common. We all have a God-shaped void in the core of our beings. Until that void is filled we can never be contented and only God can fill that void. Trying to find satisfaction in anything else will only bring frustration and disillusionment.
 
Maybe that is why Jesus said, "But seek first my kingdom and my righteousness and all these others will be added to you as well."
 
Where are you looking for happiness and satisfaction?
 
Can you recognize any self-indulgence in your life?