What's in the Bag?

1st John chapter 2 describes the desires for the things of this world that can so easily ensnare us if we're not careful to abide in Christ and depend on His power to overcome temptation:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

We can become so distracted sometimes, thinking that the promises of the world can truly satisfy us.   The hunger for power and control, the thirst for more money or possessions, the lust for relationships that are not pleasing to God - these desires can become so overpowering and hardly satisfying.  The Lord alone can give us the contentment that we are longing for.  If we abide in His love and exhibit a dependence on Him, then He will fill our souls with the peace and joy that He intends.

In James chapter 4, we see a description of people who had misplaced priorities and motives:
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

It's truly an odd sight, a picture of a deer at the edge of the woods, with its head covered in a bag - of Doritos.  No, it's not a scene from a Super Bowl ad contender.   In Monroe County, Florida, 2 Sheriff's deputies spotted and photographed the deer.   A UPI.com story quotes Deputy Becky Herrin, who said, "It must have wanted that last chip in the bottom of the bag..."

The bag's green color suggested it was possibly once filled with Doritos Dinamita Chile Lemon Rolled Flavored Tortilla Chips.

Herrin said the deer was calm while the deputies approached.  Deputy Joshua Gordon snapped a photo of the animal with his cellphone, then removed the bag.

The deer then scampered away, Herrin said, noting that it was unlikely anyone had deliberately put the bag on its head.

I couldn't help but think of that winning Super Bowl ad from last year, remember, Goat 4 Sale", where a goat   was consuming hundreds and hundreds of bags of Doritos, and its owner decided he had had enough, took his Doritos, and put the animal up for sale, much to the chagrin of the incensed goat.

That picture of the deer with a bag on its head illustrates a powerful picture for us.   We don't really  and can't really know the backstory, but there was something that this animal wanted, and it turned out he or she couldn't have all that it desired.   And, so often, we exceed the limits of moderation and find ourselves wanting more than we need or than we should have.  It could be more stuff, or a greater position in the workplace at the expense of someone else, or more control in a situation.   If we're not careful, we could end up, figuratively speaking, with an empty bag on our heads.

The Bible challenges us in Isaiah 55 with the question: Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

God can provide the satisfaction that we yearn for deep in our souls - as we abide in Him and do not indulge in the empty promises of this world, we find peace and contentment, joy in His presence.  As we depend on Him, we can be confident that He loves us and only wants what is best for us.