Cravings are never satisfied only intensified

Reflecting on 1 John 2:15-17 this morning.

John writes, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you." (1 John 2:15)

John helps me to see that there are two sources that I can draw from- God or the world (the disordered system that resulted from sin). It makes me think of Adam and Eve in the Garden. They had a decision- do they get their life from God or do they live without God. Unfortunately, they chose to live without God...they believed the lie that they could become like God by themselves...and the world was cursed. It became disordered. Things got turned upside down. Instead of God being at the center, we placed ourselves at the center.

I look at verse 16 and realize how shallow the offerings of the world are..."craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions."

These things make me feel like we settled for living like an animal...we are driven after what brings us pleasure, or what we can see at the expense of things that are truly important and eternal. Some how we have lost all self-control with these things. Our cravings don't become satisfied when we feed them. No, our cravings for these things only become intensified...to the point where we don't control our cravings but they control us.

Then there is the pride in our achievements and possessions. Can you believe we choose to live for our pathetic glory? We pour our whole life into what we can accomplish for ourselves and what we can possess, and yet, it results in nothing that really lasts. No one will remember our accomplishments after we die. Our possessions don't last. Sure we can give them to others, but the day will come when the things we invested our life in will find themselves on the junk pile- broken, wasted away, unwanted.

I feel the challenge to live for those things, and I have to admit, in the heat of the moment it is hard not to respond to those cravings. Yet sitting here with my Bible, seeking perspective, it seems so obvious. How foolish it is to pursue the things of this world. Those things will destroy me. It is not that God did not create pleasure, or give us a desire to accomplish great things. No those things came from God, but when we take God out the picture, those things become to much for us and destroy us.

It makes me think of a child who is being taught to drive or hunt or how develop relationships. All of these things are good, when enjoyed responsibly. However, each of these things can be destructive if not engaged in properly. Usually, a parent- or guardian of some type- will lead the child through the process of learning these things. Through the love and wisdom of the parent, the child can experience these things in a healthy way.

However, when we choose the love of the world, we are doing it without the love of the Father. We don't allow God to be there with us, guiding and teaching us. We do it alone. We rush headlong into the cravings, and they overpower us.

That is why I develop disciplines in my life like fasting, simplicity, and service. These are the exercises that help me to develop the "muscle" in my life to say no to my cravings and my pride.

How am I going to say no to cravings if I have not denied them through fasting? How am I going to deny the craving to acquire all the cool stuff I see unless I orient my life around the practice of just having what I need? How I am going to reduce pride in my life unless I submit myself to the needs of others?

Sitting here I can say God is enough. In fact, He is more than enough. John reminds me that "this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:17)

See...He is more than enough. Living for our cravings is a life that fades away. Living in the love of the Father gives eternal life.