We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people during imperfect times. There is a constant clamoring for bigger, better, and more expensive things. The current mindset in our world is that “I deserve a break today. I should have it my way. I deserve all the expensive things and toys.” The pursuit of those things is touted as our God-given right. There’s only one problem—the only thing that all of us really want is to be loved. We can have it all on the outside, keep up with the Jones’, have the best of everything, but still feel empty inside. We often feel like Oliver Twist asking, “Please sir, may I have more? ”It’s not the stuff we want; things don’t bring lasting happiness. What we truly desire is to be loved, valued, and to know that we matter. We want love, not things. What does it mean for us to gain the whole world yet lose our soul? (See Mark 8:36.) It means to have never truly experienced love. May the cry of our hearts be heard, and may we seek the only One who can truly fulfill those cries for love. Lasting happiness comes from knowing the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), not from owning them ourselves.