Meaning and fulfillment

Charles Stanley made an observation on one of his radio sermons a few years back that has always stuck with me because it was so profound.  He said something along the lines that we were designed by God as spiritual beings, and therefore the only true meaning and fulfillment we are able to find is through spiritual means.  But all too often we aren’t fulfilled because we look for meaning and fulfillment through physical means – money, possessions, sexual gratification, etc.  In other words, because we are spiritual beings we cannot find these things through physical means.  This was truly an amazing revelation that God gave to Dr. Stanley because it explains so much about human nature, particularly our modern culture.

Basically, it perfectly explains why for most people, enough is never enough.  They get the home, car, or job that they’ve always sought after and longed for, but after a time their dream isn’t enough for them any more.  They grow tired of it because it didn’t provide the fulfillment they thought it would.  Then they begin to long for the next home, car, or job that they’re sure will do what the first one couldn’t do for them.  This explains why fads and trends exist, and why people fall for them.

Or they plunge headlong into a relationship with someone because they get such excitement and apparent meaning and fulfillment with that person – until time wears on and they realize that person isn’t always able to provide them with those things.  That person isn’t perfect and they make mistakes and they say and do hurtful things.  Then – more often than not – that relationship ends when one partner decides that being alone or finding another relationship is what will provide the meaning and fulfillment that the previous relationship was supposed to.

Sadly, people who call themselves Christians – those who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ – fall into the same trap of trying to find meaning and fulfillment in the things of this world instead of the One they claim as their Lord and Savior.  They start looking at the world around them and often unwittingly start wanting what it has to offer.  They look at co-workers and neighbors and start to become conformed to them instead of being an agent of change in their lives.  They compromise their morals in order to try to be accepted by those that hate God instead of daring to be different and taking moral stands and showing the love of God.  They start to buy the bigger houses, the newer cars, and the higher-paying jobs and begin to wonder if it’s really worth it to spare the time and effort toward getting to know their God better.

Then one day, most of these “Christians” by title only wake up and wonder what happened.  They look at their possessions and/or level of life achievement and wonder why they their lives aren’t meaningful or fulfilled at all.  Some think that meaning or fulfillment is still yet around the corner with the next possession.  Others think that God has let them down, as though being blessed only meant being financially abundant.  These are the ones who are still putty in the devil’s hands.

But a few come to realize that the years of effort and sacrifice to find these things through what the world has to offer, through physical means, has only built them a house of cards.  When the winds of life blow and stock prices tumble, or jobs disappear, or health fades, they find their house of cards is not able to protect them, let alone bring peace that passes all understanding, which is a reflection of true meaning and fulfillment.

Only when a person takes and makes the time to know God better – through things like reading the Bible, praying, being with other believers, and letting God love other people through them – will true meaning and fulfillment in life be found, through spiritual acts instead of physical means.