Why is There so Much Alcoholism, Drug Addiction and Suicide Among People Who ‘Have it All’?

Q: Why is there so much alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide among famous people, wealthy people, successful people and glamorous people when they “have it all”? — W.W.

A: When people live for themselves and feed their desires, they will eventually find themselves empty. This is the case with so many who “appear” to be fulfilled.

The Bible says that we were made for God. When we refuse to give Him His rightful place, things go wrong and our lives become distorted. The more people have the more they want. Eventually they come to a dead end.

King Solomon penned the book of Ecclesiastes. People would be wise to read it often because it gives insight into the frailties of accumulating wealth, searching for fame and seeking approval from peers. He wrote, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. … Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and … indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11). Finally he realized that lasting contentment and meaning in life is found only in God.

These things should be a warning to us, to be sure that we do not seek to fill the emptiness in our lives through things that can never satisfy. Only God can give life to the fullest extent (see John 10:10). God says to come to Him, so our souls may live (see Isaiah 55:3). There is a song that says, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.” The most important thing we can do is surrender our lives to Jesus. He will empower us to let loose of what the world gives us so that we can be filled with what really matters — to do the will of God. This turns disappointment into joy and emptiness into fulfillment (see Psalm 16:11).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.