Please read Psalm 62:9-12.
In
1966 Howard Hughes was the richest man in the world. He had power, fame, women
and toys, and his answer for everything was money. Money brought/bought him
many relationships with the powerful in Washington DC, and with young Hollywood
actresses including, Ava Gardner, Katherine Hepburn and Rita Hayworth. He was
an aviator (Hughes Aircraft), moviemaker, industrialist, casino owner etc. Yet
when he died in 1976, just 10 years after he was named the richest man in the
world, he was an extreme recluse and weighed 93 pounds on his 6 foot-1inch
frame. In addition to germphobia and paranoia, Hughes had what people call
‘destination sickness’.
So
what is this ‘destination sickness’? It is the malady of being lonely and
extremely miserable, (1) despite possessing everything and having
relationships, and (2) being dissatisfied with the possessions and
relationships. Also, as the temporal and the finite do not bring any
contentment, people with ‘destination sickness’ always want more. All of his
lifetime, Hughes essentially desired MORE, MORE and MORE.
The author of Ecclesiastes writes about the temporal “So I hated life, because what is
done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving
after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). In Psalm 62, King David warns us – “if riches increase, set not your heart on
them (v.10)” and later tells us “power belongs to God, and
that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.(v. 11-12)”
Dear brother and sister in Christ: there are many rich and
powerful people in the world that endure a void in their lives – people
surround them but they are lonely. Also they are continually fooling themselves
thinking that more wealth will make them lovable and contented - but the truth
is - they are suffering from ‘destination sickness’. They are never satisfied
with the finite and they want more.
On the other hand, you and I are rich as Paul explains, “For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he
became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).” We did not search
for the riches, we did not ask for them, we cannot earn or buy them - this
richness/riches come from Jesus. So as the blessed rich in His love, grace,
mercy and relationship, let us live focused on our true destination that Jesus
purchased with His blood.
Thank You, Lord, for loving this unlovable
sinner, for saving me from my sins and for giving me “unsearchable riches
of Christ.” In His name, Amen.
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