There is a story often reported about the lives of the rich and famous. They achieve fame and fortune, live excesivle, and subsequently experience failed relationships, and/or substance abuse problems, and some, tragically, take their own lives. Yet many people still believe the sense of fame, or the accumulation of wealth, will bring them happiness. What is the allure of fame and fortune?
This affinity towards longing for acceptance and praise from others is addicting I think. This love comes in many shapes and forms. The stuff that gives me surface happiness needs money. Even killing the babies in abortion, people do that because they desire to save the money spent for a child, or the money that is potentially lost because one needs time to take care of the baby. They don't think there is an afterlife.
I think the immediate gratitude makes us feel good. God expects us to enjoy what we have, feel gratitude for them, understand what we have are His gifts, thank Him, and eventually trust Him. Once trust Him, we tend to follow Him. When we follow Him with all our heart and souls, might and strength, our life achieved true happiness. This requires deep examination of self. without that the things that make us feel good now and here will be more attractive.
