Filled and Fulfilled

                      

If you have everything you want and still feel empty, then what? What if you never have all you want and feel you have no hope of ever being fulfilled? Or what if you spend your whole life seeking after things that you think will make you happy, only to be disappointed?

Many who have money and/or material possessions still feel empty. Watch one episode of "hoarders" or pay attention to the state of Hollywood and you'll see that people everywhere, of all creeds, backgrounds and colors seek fulfillment in things of this world to no avail. I know a few hoarders, successful and rich people. Those who cling to it are miserable and tormented. They spent so much time and effort protecting their money and material things that they become bitter and angry. They are so tied up in bondage even though most wouldn't admit it. 

Scripture tells us that it is the wise man who accepts that fulfillment can't be found in things of this world. So what is our problem?

1. Everything in this world is broken. 

2. We were created to have a yearning for a relationship with our creator that can only be satisfied by our Creator. 

We, believers, are just as vulnerable to seeking fulfillment in things and relationships of the world. We look for fame or money or dream jobs. So often we claim to be waiting on God all while we are so miserable. We say we want God's will but our heart says we just want our way. How do I know? I have been just as guilty.  I have been convicted of my own selfishness and my pouty attitude. 

But we are His witnesses to the world. We are the very ones who must learn to have those empty places filled by Him before we can expect to fulfill our own calling. Beloved, we weren't called to live an unfulfilled life, but one of fulfillment found solely in Him. 

We have a serious issue of unbelief in the church. God had to reveal it to my heart before I could see it in others. It's what causes our inconsistencies, and the world takes notice. We look for things of this world to fill us and when they don't, we grow discouraged. Our reactions to life's circumstances reveal where we really place our hope. 

We won't see any change in the world unless Christians first place their every hope in Jesus Christ.  Many of you are saying, " But I do!" But I ask you to look one more tme. Do you really? Is there any area of your life where when you don't get what you want, you throw an emotional two-year-old tantrum? We must be reminded that God judges the heart. 

Others need to see hope that is real. Shouldn't we be modeling true fulfillment in God alone? Because if we aren't part of the solution, we're ultimately part of the problem.