“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” (1 Peter 4:1-2 The Message)

In my half century of existence (I was born with a Tyrannosaurus Rex!), I had craved (and still crave) certain things. When I was a teenager I loved pop music (Why are teens so attracted to that stuff???). I would listen faithfully to the weekly Top 40s, and I even wrote my own Top 40 list. Funny thing, those “tops” never stopped! I kept on wanting to write new ones, and newer ones, and even newer ones.

The same was true with the songs I was listening to. I was never satisfied with what I had. I wanted more, but more did not really bring me any satisfaction, and I was constantly scavenging for more!

“Oh if I only could have the latest single from the Bee Gees!” (No DVDs in my time! I was a record man!). Once I had the single, however, I wasn’t any closer to total bliss, because the newest single from Will Tura would be coming out soon (I bet you don’t know that one! You see, I really AM old!)

Then I moved into video games, possessions, money, academic fame, books… but in all reality none of these satisfied me for long! I would be exited to have the latest book from Ted Dekker, for example, and would enjoy reading his books, but once read, the pleasure would be forgotten, only to be replaced by other books. At least there is value in such books, for they deal with spiritual matters and serve to draw me closer to the One who can bring me total and complete satisfaction in life!

But the “Oh I can’t wait until I have a minivan!” were more often met with disappointment. So what if I had a different kind of vehicle? With oil prices climbing through the roof, I now wish I had a mini car!

Can’t I ever be happy and contend with the things in life? Not really, because this is all nothing more than a simple indication that we are longing for something much deeper and more profound; something that this world cannot offer!

We were not created for owning the most things possible. The one with the most really DOESN’T win, for aren’t we all, in the end, buried 6 feet under with nothing under our name? (At least if you are believer you know your real destination!)

The best idea we have for what we were created for is when we experience true love. Take last Spring, for example. At the end of the school year, I was given two days to move into a new classroom. Anytime beyond that, I had plane reservations I couldn’t ignore!

While holding my head in my hands, wondering how to do it all, I felt a hand come up on my shoulder. I looked up to see my 13 year-old, smiling down at me. “I can help you, Papa!” He said. “Aren’t four hands better than two?” The time I spent working with him was more satisfying than getting my classroom together. Real love is the only way to find real purpose and fulfillment in this life, and even more so if we pursue the One who created us with that idea!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Real Living” devotional series, please click here.)