Crave or Cram

1 John 2:16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

The world offers me a lot of things that I crave…

  • Stuff.
  • Popularity.
  • Money.
  • Fun.

I admit, I want those things.
I have something inside of me that desires every one of those things in some way, to some extent.

The thing about all of those?

When consumed by themselves, they do nothing to satisfy, just provide stronger cravings.

In other words, without anything to come back to after we get the ‘stuff of the world’, we’re left with nothing but a deeper and stronger craving for even more stuff of the world.

So we end up on an endless circle to have more money, more popularity, more fun, in order to fulfill our need.

That need is left with a craving as long as we keep trying to fill it with the things of the world.

When we begin to find our identity in
something stable,
something suitable,
something sustaining,
something solid,
when we begin to find our identity in Christ,
all those things get put in perspective.

Sure, money is good.
Sure, fun is good.
Sure, laughing is good.

But only when we have an identity to return to…
otherwise, all we do is return to the craving…

So, we’re left with a choice…

Find our identity in Christ and be filled, or search for a need in the world and be left craving more.

I choose to be full… I choose crammed.


Comments

7 responses to “Crave or Cram”

  1. Awesome post.
    I believe that God gives us “tastes” of those things, not because they’re bad, but to tell us “Oh, if you think THIS is good, wait til you get to Heaven!”. He gives us those cravings because He wants us to use them for our good. Our desires for the little things don’t even come close to comparing His desires for us.

    and it’s important to keep everything in perspective because this isn’t our home. Colossians 3:2 tells us to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things”. because if it’s good down here, it can only get a trillion times better up there.

    1. Great stuff, Nikki. Good addition.

    2. sunnieM Avatar
      sunnieM

      Amen Sista!

  2. Cravings that lead to more cravings…so true. That’s why it’s so easy to get stuck in the things of this world. Like you, I want to be crammed! Great post JP!

  3. Tyson B Avatar
    Tyson B

    Maybe a good follow up would be how we can find our identity in Christ. Not sure I know how to do that??

    1. Through a relationship with him. We are no longer our own, we’re his. Good Q!

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