Yesterday we asked ‘All Things Work, Don’t They?’ and noted that we are to surrender to do what God wants, today we will ask can we be happy and fulfilled.
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.
Matthew 16:25 NLT
Two questions I think need asking and answering.
- If we seek God’s purpose for our lives will we have our needs and desires met?
- Does it mean that God will be happy, but we won’t be happy and fulfilled?
No. In fact, just the opposite is true. If we focus on ourselves, we will completely miss the purpose for which we were created and we will ultimately lose everything.
According to God’s Word, there’s only one way to be satisfied. That way is not by focusing on ourselves or our desires, but by focusing on God and his purposes. Not seeking first our welfare, but his kingdom. As Christ taught us:
He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. –
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Like everything else, we were created by God so that we could bring God pleasure. Not like your toy or pet gives you pleasure, but like your children give you pleasure.
How do we give God pleasure? It involves offering ourselves to God for His use, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. It is a heart attitude of devotion, and submission, and obedience that begins when we get up in the morning and continues until we go to bed at night. The Message translation puts it like this:
None of this going off and doing your own thing. Let every detail in your lives, words, actions, whatever be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:17, 20 The Message
In other words, Glorify God. Jesus said to the Father just before He died “Glorify me as I have glorified you”. Jesus’ goal was to glorify God and as followers of Jesus so should we.
Let me end by encouraging you that when Jesus said those words to the Father, the Father replied, “yes I will because you have glorified me I will definitely do the same”. Be encouraged if you glorify God, like Jesus, the Father will definitely respond and all things will work.
Stay safe and blessed.