I think we all move from level to level or dream to dream in life thinking that we’ll finally arrive at a level of satisfaction and contentment.  As a young teen, when I realized Middle School wasn’t as spectacular as I’d imagined, I couldn’t wait for High School.  It wasn’t long before I was anticipating college.  College was amazing.  Where else in life do you have all your meals made for you - dishes done for you, friends at your disposal seven days a week.  But College doesn’t last and then what?  A home, kids, career, a spouse.  Then one day it happens.  The life I wanted was handed to me, and still, I wasn’t satisfied.  

One day I was reading the account of Abraham in Genesis 15.  The Lord opened my eyes to my real problem.  In verse 1, the Lord says to Abraham, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  God was Abraham’s reward - not riches, things, ministry, success or children!  It stopped me in my tracks.  I discovered my dissatisfaction stemmed from not viewing God as my greatest reward.

Psalm 16:11 says; "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  I realized: begging God for anything other than Himself is begging God for less.  That the most satisfying thing in life is pursuing God’s presence.  I hadn’t been doing that first. Sure, God was part of my life, but I never viewed God as the reward that I couldn’t live without. The Lord has instructed us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37), not just because He deserves it, but for our benefit.  Satisfaction is not the result of gaining stuff; satisfaction is the result of gaining the Savior.  Why? Because this life, sin infested and fallen, is not intended to satisfy us.  It’s God who deserves the honor of satisfying His creation.  The psalmist prays in Psalm 90:14; "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."  Honestly, there’s no other way.   Nothing is better than knowing God.  This world can be tantalizing.  James 4:8, says; “"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  Even when I get off course, God welcomes me and draws me near to Him again and again.  I am (we are) blessed!   Tom