What are you pursuing?

Since I have not lived for God for a long time, then I have obviously been living for something else. If a man is not living life for the pursuit of God then I believe all other pursuits can be categorized as pursuit of wealth, pursuit of fame or pursuit of pleasure.

The first two are pretty self explanatory. The workaholic defined by what he does instead of who he is. The cut-throat executive stepping on anyone in the way to gain status and wealth. Both will ultimately result in a swelling bank account all the while leaving one morally and spiritually bankrupt.The third category is broad, however, and not so easy to recognize.

I seek pleasure. I pursue pleasure. I scheme and plot and manipulate to get it. I, as a christian have been commanded to crucify myself daily and follow Christ. I have been instructed to deny myself of my own selfish desires and focus on the desires of Christ.

But my pleasures....Oh man. I love to sit in a smoky bar and drink and smoke and cuss and lie and fight and on and on and on. I love all the sins of the flesh. The gluttony, envy, sloth, desire and the sex. Gotta love the sex!

I like me. I like my desires. Nobody knows what I want better then me. Those are three false statements and evidence of flawed logic. Just as I know what is better for my small children because of their limited understanding, my heavenly father knows what is better for me.

I cannot escape the image of the liberated Iraqi people toppling the huge statue of Saddam Hussein and then beating his image with their shoes and spitting on it. I have turned my pursuit of pleasure into that type of idol. I need help knocking it down.

God's word also says to seek first the kindom of God and His righteousness then all these other things will be added to me. So, if I put God first then I can have all of the other things my heart desires because my heart will desire what God desires for me.

I truthfully offer my flaws. I admit where I fail and what needs work. I also offer the question, "What are you pursuing?"