FULFILMENT

^“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst”” – John 6:35

To possess your possessions is to enjoy FULFILMENT in Life. This refers to a state, process, or act of being “FILLED to the FULL”! Fulfilment is God bringing to fruition whatever He has promised. There is hardly any human being who would not want to have a Fulfilled Life. Yet, fulfilment, being an innate desire, seems to mean different things to different people. To some, it might mean accomplishing a heroic feat. To others, it may mean acquiring great wealth or attaining an elevated status. What is fulfilment for you? Who or what satisfies you? Is it your education, career, spouse, family, finances or ministry? Essentially, fulfilment is tied to accomplishing Divine Purpose – the Reason for your Being!

Most people spend a lifetime seeking a sense of significance in the wrong locations, looking for what they think can fill up their cups of contentment. Unfortunately, they look to one or more of three uncertain sources: people, places, and things. Like a mirage, these ‘sources’ shimmer with fulfilment, but only bring dust to their souls. Gary Smalley said, “People, places and things are the gifts of life, not the Source of life…”

Looking to People to fill our cups is futile. They usually frustrate, irritate and drain away as much emotional energy as they give – or more. Friends can be of tremendous help and encouragement at times, but even they can disappoint us over the long haul.  Tragically, some people will have an affair to try to “fill their cup” but the transient taste of stolen waters is actually like drinking ice-cold saltwater. The aftertaste of sin burns huge holes in their cups and leaves them emptier and more miserable than they ever imagined.

Looking to Places for fulfilment can be frustrating: “If only I had the right place to live in or a vacation by the seaside, my cup would be full.” Many of us have echoed these words? Then we buy that special home or go to that remote spot, live in it for a short while, and suddenly life begins to go wrong. Indeed, the bigger the house, the more items to repair around it and the greater the headache. No matter how pretty places look, they don't fit inside our personal cups. Instead, they have sharp edges that cut holes into our lives. Many people and places drain our cups; they cannot fill up the deepest part of our lives!

Some people look to Things for fulfilment: “if I just had more money to acquire more stuff, I’ll be fulfilled in life”! The reality is: the more money you make, the more wisdom you need to handle it. Money alone, and all the things it can bring, can't fill your life with the kind of living water you desperately want. There are people with little money and others with great wealth, who are altogether miserable. Depending on “things” to fill up your cup or looking for the one “perfect” job cannot be the ticket to all your dreams. No possession, position or title can fill your cup of contentment.

There is a pathway to fulfilment: seek first the Source of Life: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt.6:33). When God is in first place as the highest priority in your life, He promises to meet all your needs. When you focus on Jesus Christ as your Sole Source, because He loves you and possesses the wisdom, love, peace and joy you always wanted, He’ll overflow your cup with His “fullness” (Eph. 3:19). He’ll empower you to fulfil your God-given Purpose in life. Thank God for every negative emotion assailing you. Pray and ask forgiveness for focusing on things that are less than Him. Ask God to fill your life; wait and hope in Him alone (Psa.62:1-2). He's your rock, your salvation, your rear guard, your hiding place, and all you'll ever need! Nothing on this earth compares to knowing Him (Phil. 3:7-9).