Chattanooga Times Free Press

Embrace the passion to know and obey God

Q: Is it just me, or do people seem much more self-indulgent than ever before? Has society invented this strange environmen­t or is “mecentered” self-inflicted? Where does all of this come from? – S.I.

- From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham.

A: The modern philosophy of self-reliance and self-sufficienc­y has caused many to believe that man can make the grade without God. “Religion,” they argue, “may be all right for certain emotional people, but you can’t beat a man who believes in himself.”

Perhaps because of technology, we know more about societies than ever before. The wise King Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the sun. Many recall the Austrian neurologis­t and founder of psychoanal­ysis, Dr. Sigmund Freud, who said that religion is the universal obsessiona­l neurosis. Such a self-confident generation produces more alcoholics, more drug addicts, more criminals, more wars, more broken homes, more assaults, more embezzleme­nt, more murders, and more suicides. The time has come to turn ourselves around and place less confidence in ourselves and more trust and faith in God.

The Bible story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus was so filled with his piety, his riches, and his greed that he revolted when Jesus informed him that the price of eternal life was to “sell out” and come and follow Him. He went away sorrowfull­y, the Bible says, because he could not detach himself from himself. He found it impossible to become “poor in spirit” because he had such a lofty estimate of his own importance. All around us are arrogance, pride, and selfishnes­s; these are the results of sin.

What is the antidote? There is only one passion that can help us control the many other passions that plague us: the passion to know and obey God.

 ?? ?? Billy Graham
Billy Graham

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