Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NLT)
18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

Met with someone who’s son in law’s brother (call him Jim) went back out there (drug/alcohol abuse) and his marriage is in jeopardy. Two kids, 3 years and 18 months old. Wife looking to seperate. Jim is getting lots of worldly wisdom, just like Solomon did. To increase worldly knowledge only increases sorrow. Ever wonder why? Ever wonder why chasing the things of the world just lead to cravings for more and the empty hollowness that follows only more?

It’s no mystery, it’s not new, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Yet, most of us pursue the world. Still. Who gives up a beautiful wife and two children for a bottle and some pills? What is the allure? Guys I speak with or mentor have a hard time changing their paradigm from “I can’t _____ anymore” to “My life is better without _______”.

It is no different from God promising us a better world here on earth and a perfect world after our death and we pursue sin and avarice. My life is better without sin and avarice. I have a hard time saying it.

Colossians 3:9-10 (NLT)
9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Christ came to cleanse us so we can be perfect before him when we come to the judgement seat. He knows we’re never going to be perfect here on earth, but he gives us the Holy Spirit to fill the place in our heart he created for it. Stripped of our old sinful nature means we’ve been given the tools to move away from sin if we choose “My life is better without _____”.

John 14:6 (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

There. Jesus. Even Islam says Christ was the only perfect man. Think about it. The Way, The Truth, The Life. Contrary to the world in all that he has done and will do. Full of Godly wisdom and knowledge, he leads us down a path to Him.

My life is better without _______, and much better with Christ.