Chasing Carrots: Chasing Religion

Religion: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.
Empty religion: following the beliefs, ceremonies and rules without knowing God.
Hypocrite: person who pretends to have morals or beliefs that they don't actually possess.

Mt 21:23-32, “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’   “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. v 28‭-‬30

1. Empty religion does not impress God. The second son gave the right answer, but didn't follow through, he represents empty religion. Isa 1:11-15 They took what should've been a beautiful thing and made it into a ritual. Mt 15:7-8
2. Empty religion is a dangerous substitute for a relationship with God. The first son represents relationship, he changed his heart and mind and followed his father's instructions. 
3. God wants a relationship with us, not empty religion from us. Empty religion trusts in our work, not in God's work. Chase a relationship with Jesus. Jn 14:6; Eph 2:8-9.

How do you know God? Mt 21:32 Repent from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ.
Repent: turn from your sin. Jesus hung out with sinners, and most often it changed them forever.
Believe: understand that there is a God who loved us and sent his son to live a perfect life, take our sin and die on the cross, and rise again and ascend into heaven.

Chasing Carrots: Chasing Pleasure

Eccl 2:1-11 v1 "I said to my heart..."  v11 "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

Why do we chase after pleasure?
1. It's fun for a while.
2. It temporarily numbs us from reality, responsibilities and pain.
3. Instant gratification. Chasing a meaningful relationship with Jesus and those around you is hard because it takes a lifetime.

The problem is that chasing pleasure makes it all about us.

Eccl 3:10-11 Our hearts were made for a relationship with God and for eternity. Ps 16:11

Chasing Carrots: Chasing Success

Success: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
What is your overall aim in life? The will to succeed often drives our lives. 4 areas that people think will make them successful: wealth, appearance, achievement, authority (power). Where it goes wrong is when success is the end all be all. Eccl 1:14
1. You can be successful, and yet have no real, lasting significance.
2. You can be successful, and still be unfulfilled.
3. You can be successful, and still be miserable.

True success:
1. True success starts with a relationship with Jesus. Rom 3:23, 6:23, 10:9; Isa 28:16
2. True success continues to flow from remaining in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is our helper, and we can do things through Him. Jn 15:5; Eph 2:10. What does it mean to remain in Jesus? To depend on Him in every area of your life.
3. True success ultimately points others to Jesus. Jn 15:1-5, 8. Ex 33:15; Ps 127:1. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."Jn 15:11