Sermon Snippet
Philippians 4:11-13
New Life Version
11 I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. 12 I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. 13 I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.
Do not set your eyes on things far off.
Pythian Odes
Unhappy people do not live in the present. They have their eyes on some distant future when everything will be wonderful. Compulsive overeaters will no longer be fat - something will have magically "fix" them, and they will live the lives they always dreamed of having.
The tragedy of projection, of course, is that it is all illusion; that beautiful future becomes the contemptible present.
I am not buying that illusion today.
The only way I can assure myself of the best possible future is to live as well as I can today.
For today: I refuse to sacrifice today for a tomorrow that never comes. I have everything I need to live today.