Yesterday I was in close proximity to one of the most tragic events ever. I wasn't sure I should write about it, but I think it's too important NOT to write about.
In the middle of the morning, I noticed colleagues gathering around the windows of our office building. They described seeing a dead body on the street, surrounded by a pool of blood. A man's dead body was in front of a nearby parking garage.
Was he hit by a car?
No cars were nearby.
Was it a hit and run accident?
No.
We quickly learned that this man's death was not caused by either one of these tragedies. Apparently, the man jumped from a high level of the parking garage--on purpose.
I am not an expert. I don't know what it feels like to be in such a place of hopelessness. Personally, I couldn't even look out the windows. I did not want mental pictures of this tragedy imprinted on my mind.
I don't know anything about the deceased man, but as the scene unfolded and I watched the reactions of others, I couldn't help but wonder: What separates us from suicide?
That may sound like a strange question, but I think most people, at some point or another, feel that their lives are futile. They feel sad or stuck in a rut or lonely--but they don't jump. Why?
Today's passage shed some interesting light on this topic. Take a look at God's Word to His people here:
"Take a good, hard look at your life.
Think it over.
You have spent a lot of money,
but you haven't much to show for it.
You keep filling your plates,
but you never get filled up.
You keep drinking and drinking and drinking,
but you're always thirsty.
You put on layer after layer of clothes,
but you can't get warm.
And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it?
Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that's what.
Think it over.
You have spent a lot of money,
but you haven't much to show for it.
You keep filling your plates,
but you never get filled up.
You keep drinking and drinking and drinking,
but you're always thirsty.
You put on layer after layer of clothes,
but you can't get warm.
And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it?
Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that's what.
That's why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said:
"Take a good, hard look at your life.
Think it over."
Then God said: "Here's what I want you to do:
Climb into the hills and cut some timber.
Bring it down and rebuild the Temple.
Do it just for me.
Honor me.
You've had great ambitions for yourselves,
but nothing has come of it...
Think it over."
Then God said: "Here's what I want you to do:
Climb into the hills and cut some timber.
Bring it down and rebuild the Temple.
Do it just for me.
Honor me.
You've had great ambitions for yourselves,
but nothing has come of it...
The beginning of this excerpt points to the emptiness of lives without a sense of purpose, love or honor for God. It's about people whose lives are focused on themselves, stuff and temporary highs.
The ambitions that seem so great are actually empty--but when we honor God, our lives are enriched.
It's interesting that in this passage, God talks to His people about how He wants to be honored: by giving to His House.
He doesn't just say to the people, "Love me. Pray. Sing me some songs." (Though in other Scriptures, it's clear God does want our love and worship). Here, He asks His people to give of their wealth to rebuild His House. God knows that our money represents our time and talent--and that we spend money on what we value. Part of God's righteous anger was because His House was in ruins while the peoples' homes were overflowing with riches--it just wasn't right to Him.
God doesn't want us to live empty lives--He doesn't want anyone to live without hope because He IS hope! God created us to live abundant adventures. However, this kind of living happens when we stop living solely for ourselves, when we honor Him first, give and hope for a greater purpose.
Tomorrow: Zechariah 1-7
