Christ is everything I need. Period. Adding anything to this Gospel message does not increase the value of the message. It taints it.
Over the past few years I've begun taking vitamin supplements. The older I get, the more I need that extra boost of nutrition, or rather the more aware I become of my need for such. And the more
I look for good supplements, the more I realize how important purity becomes to quality. More often than not, the vitamins (and foods) with all of those extra additives and fillers are less potent, less effective, less healthy. Here the rule of "subtraction by addition" applies. Most of the ingredients that the
less reputable manufactures add to the vitamins actually water down and detract from their potency and effectiveness. The addition of the "extras" often cheapens the value of the vitamins, sometimes even rendering them useless.
In his letter to the church of Colossae, Paul reminds believers that that when it comes to the Gospel of Christ, purity is the strongest pill:
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:9-10, NIV)."
As it often the case today, the pluralistic society of the day offered several spiritual "additives" that diluted the purity of this Gospel message. Pagans offered the worship of cultural gods, and even angels. Some Gnostic pagans who called themselves Christians promoted the idolatry of wisdom (the focus on knowing things over worshipping God alone). Some Jewish Christians still help the misguided belief that rules and rituals took precedence over Christ's saving grace.
Paul spoke through the confusion to the heart of the matter. Christ is enough, period. Our lives are not a race to get to grace, but rather a response of gratitude for what God has already done. And as we truly seek God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, God will provide for our needs (Matthew 6:33).
As with the Colossians, sometimes the best way for us to find God's heart, and God's provision, is to actively confess and remove the thoughts and actions that keep us from receiving the best and fullest life God has from us. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from the fullness of Christ?