I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where the culture often reflects a mindset of "nothing is ever enough." There's always a push for more—more education, more money to keep up with the high cost of living, and of course, more sports championships to satisfy our competitive spirit.

I often ask myself, what is the message that comes from Greater Boston's culture, born in the heart of our great city? What does it tell me is most valuable or supreme? What does it suggest is enough to bring true satisfaction in life? Is career the ultimate goal? If you make your career the supreme focus of your life, will it be enough to guide you through life’s journey? Is it financial success? If you prioritize wealth as your life’s mission, will it be sufficient to navigate life’s uncertainties? Is it prestige or influence? If you seek prestige and influence, will they provide the strength needed to endure life’s challenges?  Christianity teaches that if you feel empty because things never seem enough, you can find true fulfillment in God. And if things are enough, perhaps we should still ask ourselves: Is there something more awaiting me? My hope is that we see that Christ is enough. For something or someone to be worthy of worship, it must be supreme. 

In the church of Colossae, false teachings were circulating that diminished the authority, identity, and power of Jesus. If these teachings were accepted, they would lead people to devalue Jesus and conclude that He was not enough. According to Christianity, false teaching always diminishes Jesus, placing Him in a position far below what is revealed in the Bible. In our current culture, false teachings either portray Jesus as just another figure among proposed gods, suggesting He was simply a person who achieved the ultimate state of enlightenment, or they reduce Him to a mere philosopher or moral teacher among many, offering wisdom to learn from. In some cases, it goes even further, labeling Him an imposter who promoted immoral teachings. All false teaching is rooted in this belief: that Jesus is less than Supreme and, therefore, insufficient for all of life.

It is revealed in the scriptures that Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). This reveals the truth of the incarnation. Jesus was not merely a spirit roaming the earth, nor just a man who reached the peak of wisdom. He is the very Son of God—Spirit by nature, yet He took on human flesh and walked among us. He is both fully God and fully man.

Understanding this prevents us from wrongly categorizing Jesus with people like Marcus Aurelius, who some may claim was the man "who solved the universe." Jesus is not the man who solved the universe; He is the one through whom the entire universe was created. 

He is the firstborn of all creation , Colossians 1:15 does not suggest that Jesus was the first creation of God, but that He holds the status of "firstborn." In ancient times, the firstborn held a position of prominence and supremacy. Jesus holds that supreme position in the universe because He is the Son of God—unique, uncreated—and through Him, all things were made and are for Him. He is over all things. In Colossians 1:16, we see that  He is before all things and over all things, including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. In Colossians 2:15, we further witness Jesus' supremacy over the unseen world of evil:"He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.” Jesus is the firstborn from the dead Here we see the victory of the resurrection—not only over evil powers in spiritual realms, but over death itself. Death cannot stand against the Supreme King, Jesus. From verses Colossians 15-20, the Holy Spirit is making it clear: Jesus is supreme, and therefore, He is sufficient. He is enough.

Why Do We Act Like Jesus Isn’t Enough? Is it possible that we act as though Jesus isn’t enough because we see other things as supreme? Could it be that we aren’t filled with the deep satisfaction found in Christ because we are filling ourselves with other things instead?

Let me share a story: I once went to Del Frisco's Steakhouse, where the table was full of all kinds of delicious dishes. But after a while, the steak, which should have been the highlight of the meal, became a chore to finish. Why? Because I was already too full of other good things, appetizers. 

What Are the Things We See as Supreme? If we’re honest, there are many things we look to for ultimate satisfaction—things that, while good, become supreme in our lives.

Let’s talk more about Boston culture. I don’t think many of us would argue with this point, but I do hope we will reflect on it… At times, we make sports supreme. Perhaps we’re so consumed by sports that, we are more excited about the Patriots game than about gathering for corporate worship. I remember when Tom Brady was our quarterback, there was a meme going around with him holding a lamb, almost as though he were a Christ figure. It was meant as a joke, but how much truth was there in that portrayal? How often have we shown more affection, offered more praise, raised our hands, and spoken as if our sports heroes were supreme?

We also make our aspirations supreme—thinking that if we can just reach that next goal, we’ll finally be content. Whether it's achieving success in our career or in ministry, we sometimes believe that arriving at the next milestone will fill us up. Jim Carrey once said, "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer." The pursuit of these things often feels like chasing after the "carrot" of consumerism, promising fulfillment but never delivering. 

Here’s the truth: anything that is not supreme will ultimately leave you unsatisfied. If having a romantic partner is your ultimate goal, you may find that romance, no matter how fulfilling, is not supreme. You might feel disappointed if your partner falls short of expectations, or feel incomplete if you don't have one. If having children is your ultimate dream, you may realize that children, too, are not supreme. Or, you might turn them into functional saviors in your life—believing they will complete you. And if you don’t have children, you might feel as though your life lacks purpose. Why do I bring these two up? Because Jesus never had an earthly romantic partner or children, and yet He lived a fully satisfied life. His one true aspiration was to do the will of His Father, who is supreme.

Some might say, “I’m perfectly content, satisfied, and purposeful, and I don’t believe in Jesus.”Here are two things to consider: First, what if there is a deeper satisfaction waiting for you in Christ? What if the joys and pleasures you have already experienced are just glimpses, breadcrumbs leading you to the source of all goodness, where your life could experience even greater joy? Second, what if some of the dysfunction in your life could be healed by the great Restorer, Jesus? What if some of the things you’re filling yourself with are only contributing to your dysfunction, your lack of self-control, and your sense of emptiness? It’s like when I mistakenly filled my car’s antifreeze chamber with oil—the car didn’t run properly because it wasn’t filled with what it was meant for. The reason we sometimes act like Jesus isn’t enough is that there are other things in our lives that we see as supreme. 

The primary step to something becoming supreme in our hearts is recognizing its glory. In Christianity, that glory is seen in a person—Jesus Christ, the supreme Son of God. Glory is revealed when that which is most glorious is willing to sacrifice, so that those who are less glorious can benefit from its greatness. The One who existed before all things, never created but always eternal, allowed Himself to be alienated because of humanity's sin, so that all who bow to His supremacy could be restored to God. The One who rules over all things gave His body to be crushed, so that we could be reconciled to God. The One who is supreme absorbed the hostility of man, to the point of shedding His blood, so that we could have peace through Him and be called the family of God. The One who is life itself gave Himself to die and became the firstborn from the dead. In His resurrection, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to be resurrected with Him.

Jesus is enough to complete any soul! Jesus is enough to satisfy any person!
Jesus is enough to make the dead alive! Jesus is sufficient because He is supreme!

How do we apply this truth to our lives? Jesus died to present you as holy, blameless, and above reproach before God. This means that through faith in Him, we are made blameless and holy, and through Him, we are called to grow in holiness of life. C.S. Lewis wrote, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” Does this mean we become the Supreme Son of God? Certainly not! But it means that we are redeemed by the Supreme Son to live like Him in this world—as servants, sacrificing for others, and living with a purpose to glorify God and serve the good of others.

Is your aspiration to become more like Jesus? I believe that emotional maturity is tied directly to spiritual maturity. What will make you emotionally mature? It’s making the most important thing—the supremacy of Christ—the most important thing in your life. Emotionally immature people either make themselves the center of the universe or feel they have no value at all. But the supremacy of Christ teaches us that we are not the center of the universe, yet we are deeply valued because the One who is most valuable gave Himself for us, so that we could be restored to Him. This truth, the gospel, stabilizes us, gives us steady emotional maturity, and keeps us grounded in the faith, as Paul speaks of in Colossians 1:23.

Is Christ supreme in your heart? Are you empty, or filled with the wrong things? What if you reached out to Jesus, who alone can fill you with His love and acceptance? Are you content? Or is your contentment found in things far lesser than what God has for you?

Believe in this great truth: The Supreme One became one of us in order to restore us to Himself. He calls to you today, to repent of making lesser things supreme, and offers Himself to you in exchange. Just believe.