Flawed American writer and intellectual David Foster Wallace once gave a commencement address before he committed suicide in 2008.
This is what he said to the graduating class…
“In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism …. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And … pretty much anything you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things—if they are where you tap real meaning in life—then you will never have enough …. Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you …. Worship power—you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart—you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out.”
His words are very true. They are reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s song, “Gotta Serve Somebody”…
You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Everybody worships and serves something. Sometimes more than one thing.
The one thing Wallace missed and possibly intentionally passed over is the worship of God, specifically Jesus. He will not disappoint or consume your life and leave you empty or used up.
Jesus is one we can turn to once we have exhausted all other options for worship. And when we do, here is the promise Jesus makes to us…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Instead of being bound in servitude to a thing… you can be freed to rest in the love of God.
What are you worshipping?
What is taking most of your energy these days?
What inside of your is never quenched or satisfied?
Seek Jesus…because He is looking for you.
God bless,
Pr. Ben