From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: There have been so many celebrities die young by their own will: overdosing, committing suicide, drinking themselves to death, etc. People have to be quite desperate to walk such destructive pathways. It’s hard to understand because they have achieved wealth, fame, and power. Why are they so self-destructive? – S.D.

 

Dear S.D.: The Bible says that we were made for God. When we refuse to give Him His rightful place, things go wrong and our lives become distorted. The more people have, the more they want. Eventually they come to a dead end.

When people live for themselves and feed their desires, they will eventually find themselves empty. This is the case with so many who “appear” to be fulfilled.

King Solomon penned the thought-provoking book of Ecclesiastes. People would be wise to read it often because it gives insight into the frailties of accumulating wealth, searching for fame, and seeking approval from peers.

He wrote, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. … Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done … and indeed all was vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:10–11, NKJV). Finally, he realized that lasting contentment could only be found in God.

This is a warning not to seek filling the emptiness of life through things that can never satisfy. Only God can give life to the fullest extent (see John 10:10). “Come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3, NKJV).

An old song says, “All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give.” Surrendering our lives to Jesus is of utmost importance. He will empower us to let loose of what the world offers so that we can be filled with what really matters – to do the will of God. This turns disappointment into joy and emptiness into fulfillment (see Psalm 16:11).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)