Sally returns home again to an empty apartment after attending a party with friends. As she turns the light on and sits alone on the couch, she wonders if she could ever be happy. If only a guy would take an interest in her. Then, she could find some fulfillment in life. Hank exits his boss’s office. Once again, his boss passed him over for a promotion. Although Hank works hard, he can’t seem to get ahead. He needed the raise that promotion would bring, but now he is back to pinching pennies. If only his boss could recognize his value. Then, he could find some fulfillment in life. Frank and Ann look on with a tinge of jealousy as their neighbor pulls into the driveway with a new car. Their cars are ten years old. They still work, but certainly don’t look as nice. If only they had more money to buy some new things. Then, they could find some fulfillment in life. Conner is excited to head to college and play basketball. The college he will attend has a chance to win some championships while he is there. If they do that, he will certainly find some fulfillment in life.
Making Biblical Decisions: Finding Fulfillment in Bringing God Glory – August 2, 2024
To a certain extent, we can all see ourselves in these situations. We look to the things of this world to bring us fulfillment in life. Yet, as we get older and experience life, we discover that these things do not bring fulfillment. Marriage proves to be just as hard (and perhaps harder) than singleness. The new position at work brings new headaches and more expectations. The new vehicles get older, break down, and must be replaced in a few years. And no one cares about the athletic feats of your youth. The things of this world cannot bring satisfaction. This is why it is so essential to consider God’s glory as we make decisions. God’s glory is our hope and fulfillment in life and death.
Paul reminds the Corinthian church of this reality in 2 Corinthians 4 and 5. As Paul begins chapter four, he reminds us that the gospel and our lives are about God’s glory. “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-6).
Yet, Paul acknowledges that this message we proclaim is in the middle of a broken world. We have the treasure of Christ in us, but we are mortal. Paul uses the illustration of a clay jar. We are fragile and prone to be broken. Yet, our condition does not matter if we live for God’s glory. In fact, our condition as broken people magnifies God’s glory. God uses us to show his surpassing power. Recognizing this reality means that all that goes on around us cannot impact our fulfillment in life. So Paul rightly notes that “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).
When we live for God’s glory, our situation does not define us. We often allow our circumstances to dictate our joy and destiny. Yet, when we recognize and live for God’s glory, we understand that our circumstances are inconsequential. We don’t lose heart with our lot in life. Instead, we realize that the things of this world are temporal. Instead, we live for the eternal things of God. When we make decisions purely to advance our present comfort or perceived wants, we end up sadly disappointed. We ask these things to do something they were never intended to do. However, when we live for God’s glory, we can find fulfillment because the things of God never pass away.