Welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren Christensen of Danish Countryside Chapel, and today, you might need to buckle up, because we're diving into a topic that could sting a bit. We're about to unpack what I like to call "The Reality of Empty Success." Yes, you heard me right—empty success. In a world that's hooked on achievements, it's time to wake up to the emptiness that tags along with a life fixated on nothing but personal gain.
Let's kick this off with a verse that lays it out plainly. Ecclesiastes 2:11 says, "Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." Straight from the book, my friends. All that toil, all those late nights, all those sacrifices—vanity. It's like chasing the wind.
Now, let me get personal. I've been around the block and worked in corporate America. I've seen folks chasing after success like it's the Holy Grail. Take Tom, for instance. Climbing that corporate ladder, making the big bucks, driving a fancy car. Superficial rewards, right? Shiny on the outside but hollow within. Tom forgot the joy of real connections. His circle narrowed down to business meetings and networking events. It's a lonely road, my friends, and I've seen it firsthand.
And then there's Sarah. Always seeking the next promotion, the next accolade. She's so into herself, she's forgotten the joy of serving others. When was the last time she volunteered at the local shelter or spent time with her family without checking her work emails? Success, she thought. But in reality, a void that real connections and genuine service used to fill.
And let's talk about hypocrisy, shall we? Society's full of it. People putting on a show, pretending their success is everything. But deep down, there's an internal battle, a struggle. I've been at the deathbeds of folks who lived a life of deceit and selfishness. Trust me; it's not a pretty sight. Regrets start piling up, and suddenly, the so-called success looks like a cheap imitation of a life well-lived.
So here's the deal, folks. Pastor Loren is throwing down a challenge. It's time for a reality check. Reevaluate your priorities. Success shouldn't be about the next paycheck or how many likes you get on social media. It's about meaningful connections, about service, about living by values that stand the test of time.
You want genuine success? It's not found in the corner office or a fat bank account. It's found in the relationships you build, the lives you touch, and the values you stand for. Let's break free from this obsession with empty success and start living lives that truly matter.
Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, let's choose success that lasts.
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