Are you a person who is constantly looking for something better? Assuming that what you have is mediocre and you’re on a lifelong hunt for the best?

If you are not, you are among the .008987% of the U.S. population that isn’t (don’t fact check me on that, just take my word for it).

Solidarity, people. Right there with you.

Your house was plenty when you bought it, but now it feels small and inadequate, there must be a better house.

You have the iPhone 8 but are now coveting the iPhone XS (I learned from the guy at the Verizon store that there is a phone newer than the iPhone XS…stay tuned for the iPhone XR in October).

You vacationed in Florida but a friend spent her spring break in Turks and Caicos and now your trip seems inadequate.

The list is endless. There always seems to be something better than what you have.

In our defense, temptations are everywhere. And always have been. Do you recall a story in the Bible about forbidden fruit? Eve had everything she needed in the Garden of Eden, but if she could just taste this one delicious fruit, she would be happier. And you know how that story ended!

There always seems to be something better.

The Prodigal Son

In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. There are so many takeaways from this story – entire books published on the 21 verses – but let’s look at how it relates to always looking for something better…it is the title of this post you know.

The prodigal son (prodigal meaning spending/wasting money or resources freely and carelessly) in the story is the youngest of two brothers. He decides he’s not happy with his current situation so asks his father for his share of the inheritance and heads out of town. After recklessly spending all of his money, he was reduced to working for a local farmer and on the brink of starvation. With his tail between his legs, he decided to go back home. In the end, his father greeted him with open arms and a celebration and the older brother was flabbergasted. The end.

Why did the son leave home? This young man seemingly had everything – food, clothing, shelter, money, a loving family, and servants.

Was it a whisper from Satan?

A heated argument with his father?

Jealousy that he was the younger brother and felt as if he wasn’t as respected?

Jesus doesn’t tell us why the son wanted to leave. But what we do know is that he wanted more and assumed he could do better on his own.

So was he better off on his own? Did he find something better? In verse 16 (MSG) it says, He was so hungry he would have eaten the corn-cobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.

He left the security of his family and his home and is reduced to craving pig food. I’d say no, he’s not better off on his own.

But honestly, I can’t blame the prodigal son. Sometimes there’s something you want so bad it overtakes you. You can’t stop thinking about it until you see if it, in fact, is better.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like the prodigal son – more than I’d care to admit.

Luckily, the prodigal son’s story has a happy ending and he was given a second chance by his father. It is a story of love and forgiveness. We can’t all be that lucky. Our quick decisions being guided by the need for something better can end with disastrous results.

What do you do when you feel that longing for something better?

Do you act on it?

My advice is to put it against the Bible. Will having a new home make you a better Christian?

Maybe yes if your home is small and you want to open it up to host people, adopt a baby or if you want to move out of a dangerous location.

Maybe no if you selfishly want to move because your friend moved to a house with a pool and now you want to or if you got a big raise at work and you feel like you need to show off your new wealth.

Every person’s situation is different. Your longing for something better is different than mine. Yours might be Christ-focused and mine might not be. You have the best instruction book on the planet to dive into. Ask God for guidance when you feel a desire for more.

It’s hard and frustrating to always assume there is something better out there. In many cases, there is something better. But instead of dwelling on what could be better, let’s focus on what is in front of you.

Gratitude.

Be grateful for the blessings you have. Your health could be better, but you still have breath in your lungs. Your children could be smarter, but they are kind. Your spouse could be more thoughtful, but he works hard and loves you.

Your “always something better” is likely something you already have. Ask God for peace.

What are you grateful for today?

Until Next Time,

Neko