What gets lost isn't us, but our trying to find that fulfillment on our own, apart from or outside of God.
Even though our greatest fulfillment is found in valuing (worshipping) another (i.e. God, who is most valuable), it is no less ¹our fulfillment we are experiencing.
Our fulfillment is legitimate and important not just to us, but also to God. He created us to experience and enjoy Him and find our greatest joy and fulfillment in Him in doing so.
In turn, He experiences his own joy in bringing us joy. God is driven to bring the joy and delight in who He is - as Father, Son, and Spirit - to others in and through Himself - the true source of life, love, and all things. God is thrilled when we delight in Him. He finds great ²delight in this.
But all this is the result of honoring God, not the goal. To say it simply, ³our greatest joy (fulfillment) is bringing the highest honor ³to another, not in seeking joy itself i.e. for its own sake.
But all this is the result of honoring God, not the goal. To say it simply, ³our greatest joy (fulfillment) is bringing the highest honor ³to another, not in seeking joy itself i.e. for its own sake.
Because we are in the image of God we are wired to focus on another and find greatest joy in doing so because this is exactly what happens between the Father and Son in, by, and through the Spirit.
And this is not just honoring anyone but the one Being that is most significant and honorable above all others and most worthy of all honor - the Creator and Giver of life, love, and all things.
If we truly desire to find our life, we must lose our life first, i.e. lose our hopes and attempts to find life outside of or apart from God. Because He is life. True life is ultimately and only in Him.
yearns -
ἐπιποθεῖ (epipothei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1971: From epi and potheo; to dote upon, i.e. intensely crave possession.
spirit -
πνεῦμα (pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.
He caused to dwell -
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¹Our desire for fulfillment isn't in question. We are designed by God Himself to be filled by Him. It is a matter of how we best experience fulfillment - by seeking it directly, independent of God, or by seeking God and, in doing so, finding our greatest fulfillment. The Bible says it is only possible in and by the latter.
The most amazing part is this is also central to the very being of God himself. The Father finds the greatest joy in exalting another - i.e. his Son - and the Son in exalting his Father. This delight, love, and joy is the essence of who God is. This delight is so great it tangibly manifests as God's Spirit, the third person of our triune God. God is Spirit and He is Love.
¹Our desire for fulfillment isn't in question. We are designed by God Himself to be filled by Him. It is a matter of how we best experience fulfillment - by seeking it directly, independent of God, or by seeking God and, in doing so, finding our greatest fulfillment. The Bible says it is only possible in and by the latter.
The most amazing part is this is also central to the very being of God himself. The Father finds the greatest joy in exalting another - i.e. his Son - and the Son in exalting his Father. This delight, love, and joy is the essence of who God is. This delight is so great it tangibly manifests as God's Spirit, the third person of our triune God. God is Spirit and He is Love.
Because we are like God, we too find greatest fulfillment in this same way, i.e. by exalting another. God not only instructs us to this end and in this way but actually lives this Himself. This is who God is and who He calls us to be i.e. like Him...in His image.
²...Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us' ”? - James 4:5 ESV
yearns -
ἐπιποθεῖ (epipothei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1971: From epi and potheo; to dote upon, i.e. intensely crave possession.
spirit -
πνεῦμα (pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.
He caused to dwell -
κατῴκισεν (katōkisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside. The spirit He put within each of us did not disappear but is dormant due to our rebellious unbelief.
According to the above passage, there is something about us - our breath-spirit-life-being - he put in us that he values, prizes, longs (yearns) for, and seeks to engage.
What is that something? Our being like God - in his image. He longs for Himself in us - i.e. that which is like Him - in us. Since he created us like himself - in his image - he also longs for us. He longs for and delights in us because we are like Him.
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside. The spirit He put within each of us did not disappear but is dormant due to our rebellious unbelief.
According to the above passage, there is something about us - our breath-spirit-life-being - he put in us that he values, prizes, longs (yearns) for, and seeks to engage.
What is that something? Our being like God - in his image. He longs for Himself in us - i.e. that which is like Him - in us. Since he created us like himself - in his image - he also longs for us. He longs for and delights in us because we are like Him.
God is all about giving because He already has all that he needs within himself as the community of Father and Son in, by, and through the Spirit.
³And so it also is with God. His greatest joy is bringing delight to another. First, the Son brings joy to the Father, then the Father to his Son, and then out through the Son to us, his adopted sons and daughters who are in his image, i.e. who are like God.
God's delight is like a parent who gives a legitimate gift to a child that the child wants and enjoys. As parents, we delight in doing so when we know it's in their best interest - and when they appreciate the love conveyed to us through that gift and are not just enamored with the gift or drawn away from the Giver by it.
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Grace to you
Jim Deal