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Satisfaction—the fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need, or appetite. This word can bring images of contentment after a hard days work at our job or after painting the living room, or mowing the lawn. The bible says that this satisfaction is from God. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.— Ecclesiastes 3:12-14
Open your bible to Ecclesiastes 5 and notice that the author of chapter three also lends thought to our human inability to be completely satisfied (in this context concerning wealth). It seems a constant battle for me to resist wanting more of just about everything I come across in my life. From chocolate chip cookies, to time for just me and myself. From a bigger and better car, to a fuller and greener lawn. More friends, more money, more clothes, better gadgets, faster this, larger that, me, me, me.
I remember just a short time ago (it seems) , I realized that I had been making a mess of my life and affecting negatively the world of those around me. I found I needed to surrender my life over to a loving Savior who knew what was required for me to straighten out my life. Prior to that, my life revolved around physical addictions (drugs & alcohol) that could never be gratified. And at the root of those physical addictions was an insatiable appetite to get as much of this world as I could, by any means available to me. I didn't know it then, but I was trying to fill a nagging inner hunger and thirst I could not fill myself. As hard as I tried, nothing seemed to curb this lustful appetite. Looking back on the past and my life without Jesus, the word satisfaction brings on images of frustration, apprehension, and hopelessness. For readers who may not know Jesus and can relate to my past frustration with satisfaction and fulfillment in life I offer this. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.—Isaiah 55:6,7.
For readers who know Jesus and can relate to my present struggle (temptation) with satisfaction in this world I offer this. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.—Matthew 5:6 and Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.—Romans 8:1,2
Vertical focus, is how I can find my fulfillment here on earth. The ruler of this earth (Satan) would have me believing the lie “try this, or get that and it will make you feel better” (horizontal focus). This train of thought brings me to another word that is related to desire and gratification. Hope—a desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.—Romans 8:24-27
My ultimate satisfaction will come on that day when I will be like Him. Amen! Every time I start focusing horizontally it all becomes me, me, me. However, vertical focus brings me back to realty in realizing who I truly am and why I’m here. Its not about me, its about Him and what He is doing through me and in me.
Is your focus in life vertical or horizontal? Are you driven by hope or satisfaction?
