Superficiality Produces Shallow Lives.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!” Romans 11:33 NIV.
My thoughts and comments today are about,
“EMPTY HEARTS AND STARVED SOULS.”
Life should be rich in experience and satisfying of heart and will be if you will not content for less. Superficiality is quicker and simpler but never provides the depth of satisfaction and fulfillment you are meant to enjoy. Too often, people live small, boring lives lacking both depth and breadth.
Empty hearts and starved souls produce shallow lives. Those words aptly describe too many of us. I find it unfortunate when a person casually regards matters they should esteem greatly, yet highly value things they should regard casually. Some people could be described as, “a mile wide but only a foot deep.”
Your number of Facebook friends is not equivalent to meaningful friendships. Relationships necessitate mutual time and attention to appreciate and nurture. You can Google an endless volume of information and yet lack knowledge and wisdom. Those admirable qualities require a learner’s heart as well as life experience.
Traditional media offers quick sound bites about global complexities for people who would rather be told what they should think than to deliberate about how they should think. Deliberation requires reliable information and thoughtful reflection. In “Christian America,” there are many people who know a lot about God, but far fewer who personally know God in ways that govern their lives and shape their lifestyles.
Dabbling in spiritual matters never satisfies your soul. Shallow lives result in surface relationships with spouses, children, friends . . . and with God. The result is fragile marriages, struggling families, shallow friendships, starved souls, and empty hearts. Superficial lives usually result from lack of clarity and direction more than lack of effort.
People work hard for a productive life, a healthy family, and meaningful relationships. The problem is this. Effort alone does not equate with effectiveness. People really haven’t changed much since Jesus walked the dusty roads and shores of ancient Palestine. Read Luke 5:1-11.
When a crowd pressed to hear Jesus, He chose an empty boat from which to teach. Men who knew well this sea had fished all night, but had little but weariness for their efforts, just a wasted day leaving them to beach their boats, clean their nets, and try again another day. Life can be like that, large investments of time and energy with little return. Jesus not only has the answer to meaningful and profitable lives. Jesus Himself is the Answer! “I am the Way, the Truth, and the life.” John 14:6 NKJ. You will be lost without Him.
Jesus offers an invitation to people exactly like that – “weary and burdened.” See Matthew 11:28-30 NIV. Jesus’ advice to those tired fishermen remains the same for today’s dissatisfied lives, left at the end of the day or week with only a few dollars, tired bodies and empty hearts. Jesus’ encouragement to you and me holds great promise when embraced with faith and obeyed, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets and you will catch many fish.” Luke 5:4 NLT.
When life is empty for you in the shallows, God offers you satisfaction and success, a little further out and a little deeper. Imagine their amazement. Those seasoned fishermen were, “awestruck by the size of their catch, as were the others with them.” Luke 5:9. God has bigger and better things for those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew 5:6 NIV. Casual seekers need not apply.
A large, fulfilling life is not found by the overly cautious, perennial doubters, or those wanting to live without some measure of personal investment, sacrifice, and risk. Paul best described our gracious, generous God, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33 NIV.
The deeper and richer things of God are reserved for the sincere, non-superficial inquirer. Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT. God’s best is kept for people unwilling to live in the shallows. Read Ezekiel 47:1-10 NKJ.
My prayer for you today is to cultivate a sincere heart for God’s best.
EDL Communications 2019
Website and archives: allenrandolph.com