Isaiah wrote: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isa. 55:2). Jeremiah said something similar: “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Man’s default is to ignore God and pursue “greener” pastures on the other side–to pursue vanity and emptiness.

     In his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen addressed man’s inherent folly in the following words:

“The Scripture reproacheth the vanity and folly of the minds of men, in that “they spend their money for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which profiteth not.” They engage the vigour of their spirits about perishing things, when they have durable substance and riches proposed unto them.” (Page 41)

     What about us? Do we pursue those things that do not satisfy? Do we sometimes (or many times?) forsake “the fountain of living waters” for “cisterns that can hold no water”? How many times do we ignore God when seeking answers to the issues of our life? Once again we want to quote the psalmist: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” (Ps. 119:37). Later on the psalmist wrote: “In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth” (Ps. 119:88). We need God to give us life in order to walk in His ways and keep His word. In the New Testament we learn that Jesus is that “life,” freely given to us.

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“