One Moment Please, Everyone STOP!

AUTHOR: Joshua Goodling

In the 1960's there was a movie made entitled; "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World". The movie was a comical tale of how the dying words of a thief created a cross-country race filled with mayhem and trickery to find some treasure. Although it was simply a fictitious comedy, it pointed out the lows many people will stoop to in their quest of fulfilling their own selfish desires.

Sadly, the world in which we live today has become rampant with pride, selfishness, greed, glutony, and on I could go in completing an apt description.

Just look at these example headlines from just the past few days in the news:

1. A driver too impatient to wait for a slow moving bus, speeds around it and slams into an approaching vehicle killing it's driver.

2. An elderly woman complains about her neighbors loud music at night, and he kills her.

3. A coach who didn't want a handicapped boy to play on his team offered money to another boy to hit him, so he couldn't play.

4. A congressman pleads guilty to taking bribes and special payoffs in return for a misuse of his power.

5. A judge is sentenced to jail for receiving kickbacks.

And those are just five of the hundreds of news stories and incidents that highlight how selfish and deceitful we as a society have become. Plus, there are more than likely literally thousands of incidents that happen each day which never get mentioned in the news.

If you stop and think about it, 90% of the problems in our world today are caused by our selfish desires, ambitions, and pride.

We've seen several incidents in the past few years where corporations have crumbled destroying hundreds of people's lives all because some people at the top felt it okay to lie, cheat, and steal in their greed desire for more power and money.

Our neighborhoods, cities, and country sides are rampant with crime, road-rage, murder, and other attrocities all because our feelings got hurt, we didn't get what we wanted, or some other selfish desire went unfulfilled.

People spend much time talking about global warming, saving some exotic fish or other species, and all sort of things, but spend little time or effort in combating the number one problem in our world today - selfishness!

Our minds today have been polluted with the idea that it's okay to lie, cheat, steal, and do whatever is necessary if the end result makes us happy. We're traveling at warp speed towards destruction, and yet many people seem oblivious to the fact. Everyone today is bombarded with pressures, busy schedules, and overbearing bosses, spouses, and other members of society all in the quest of satisfaction and ultimate happiness. We're all running running running and running some more towards that gold at the end of the rainbow. We don't seem to care who we step on, who's life we ruin, or what other damage we cause along the way as long as we reach that pile of gold.

One would think people would have learned by now that money, fame, fortune, and the things we are so desperately chasing after don't buy happiness. We too often base our "happiness" on outward circumstances. That is not TRUE Happiness, and will never last. Our outward circumstances change, sometimes on a daily basis. Instead of seeking after "happiness", we should be seeking after "joy". Joy is based on what is on the inside of our hearts.

A life that is madly striving for the things of this world, for more money, fame, and "success" in the world's eye is not going to find that peace and joy that only can be found through a right and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Rather than having the goals of this world as our centerpiece and focus in life, we should have a more personal daily relationship with Him as our goal.

You've possibly heard the words to that song; "Everday "WITH JESUS" is Sweeter than the day before..."

I think many people in today's world need to STOP and think for a moment. Why are we madly racing towards misery and pain, when we should be enjoying the daily life that God wants us to know. If we would all stop, and put Jesus first in our lives, live daily for Him and for others, seeking to be kind, loving, and helpful to those we come in contact with, we would find things a LOT more enjoyable in this world.