Good day
Today I want to encourage you to know that there is no lasting fulfillment outside of God's purposes. True fulfillment, joy and peace can only be found, and sustained, in and through Christ.
You won't find lasting fulfillment in your career, in your job, sports, hobbies, fun activities, not even in your bank account, assets, investments, nor even in your family. None of these are meant to fill the void that only God can fill.
I'm not suggesting that we don't give attention to these areas, but to place our confidence, pride, fulfillment and sense of belonging or worth in them ... just won't last. It's not meant to. God never designed it that way.
Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these other things the gentiles seek will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). He also said what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his soul, or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:24-28). Meaning that spiritual prosperity means more than any material success you could hope to achieve while on the Earth.
The Bible says the following in Ecclesiastes 12:13 (AMP):
All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.
In Ephesians 2:10 (AMP) it says the following:
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
From this we discover and realise that everyone's primary pursuit in life; everyone's ultimate goal in life; everyone's definition of success; should be to develop in the purposes of God.
... and developing in these purposes, and establishing ourselves in them, is what we should place our confidence in and find our fulfillment and sense of belonging in them.
Nothing else was ever meant to satisfy ...
Paul describes it this way referring to his relationship with God:
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:3-11 NKJV
He says that whatever he used to pursue and pride himself in meant nothing compared to the development of His relationship with God.
Can we say the same my friend? In our day and age, do we still seek fulfillment in our careers?
Does the success of our careers define us?
Do we seek fulfillment in our hobbies?
Do these things, and other areas, determine our emotional well-being? Does it define who we are, our happiness, our peace?
Does it take up all of our attention and focus?
... or can we honestly say that our sense of fulfillment is rooted and grounded in the purposes of God and His plan for our lives.
Can we count all other things as rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ and establishing ourselves in Him?
These are thoughts I recently had to ask myself, and had to evaluate my thought life to see if I've allowed the success of other areas to determine my mood, happiness and focus, or do I count these areas as meaning nothing to me compared to pursuing God's purposes and plan for my life.My success is found in Him. My joy is found in Him. My purpose for living is found in Him. My life is found in Him! ...
What could be more important than my relationship with Him, knowing His love and mercy towards me. He deserves my all, at all times, in all things. To God be the glory!
I just thought I'd share that with you so as to encourage you to keep God on the throne in your heart, live and actions!
He is worthy of it all
Bless His holy Name. Amen!