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Q: But how can I be bothered
with something as old-fashioned as religion when I'm so busy trying
to "get ahead"
A: In today's ever-changing
and increasingly complex and computerized World, more and more people
find themselves so caught up in the frenzied rush to become successful
financially, they often have little time to ponder such seemingly
"abstract" matters as the meaning of life, peace of mind,
love for their fellowman, or even the eternal welfare of their own
souls!--After all, such concerns could be quite distracting or actually
detrimental to their pursuit of the most popular "god"
of this World; a god that commands most of the World's worship and
devotion--money and material wealth!
From the time they are very young children,
many people have it ingrained in them that the only way to attain
happiness in life is to:
1.) Get a good education, preferably with a degree from a prestigious
university.
2.) Land a "promising" job with a successful company or
corporation.
3.) Make enough money to purchase a new automobile, a nice house
or two, and furnish and equip it with all of the various luxury
items and hi-tech electronic gadgets that are equated with "success".
Although this route to riches usually
requires a lifetime of blood, sweat, tears and toil, most of the
folks who follow it do so without serious doubts or reservations,
for they are convinced that once they attain the wealth they desire,
they will at last find true happiness and contentment.
But sad to say, such people usually
discover that despite their arduous efforts to attain happiness,
it somehow eludes them. As the years pass they often find that company
or social pressures have filled them with stress and anxiety, not
peace or satisfaction. Their private lives frequently suffer as
a result, as they're unable to even find time to spend with their
own families and loved ones.
Then, to their dismay, they eventually
and ultimately reach a very sad realization: This World and all
of its treasures and pleasures can never truly satisfy the heart
of Man! Material things may temporarily satisfy the body, but they
can never satisfy the soul or the spirit of Man which longs for
a joy, peace and lasting fulfillment that can never be met or fulfilled
by mere material gain.
This is why the rich and powerful are
often the most miserable of all men.--They already possess everything
that most people think can satisfy and make them happy. They've
already attained all of the material things their hearts could desire,
and to their sorrow they discover that things cannot satisfy or
fulfill their empty hearts and starving souls!--Thus they no longer
even have hope of happiness in riches! The famous English poet,
Lord Byron, realized this and lamented, "I have drunk every
cup of pleasure, and I have quaffed every cup of fame, and yet alas,
I die of thirst!"
Although many people today take little
time to ponder the prospect of a Creator, of a God, when a personal
crisis or tragedy suddenly strikes--an unexpected accident or critical
illness, a death in the family, a great personal loss of any kind--to
whom do they turn for help? A fat bank account-- regardless of the
wealth it holds--can do nothing to bring back a loved one who has
passed through death's door. Houses, lands and a stockpile of luxury
items can do nothing to rekindle a love that has grown cold or heal
a heart that's been broken. It is during such times of crisis that
people frequently realize that the true values of life are far more
important than mere material wealth.
Where
then does one start, if he sincerely seeks to find the Truth?
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