By Ordinand Benson Amanya
We live in a world that asks for too much in a short time. Each day we wake up, we are called to attend to limitless needs. By the time we retire, we are tired yet unsatisfied.
Routine follows as day follows night. Eventually, life turns meaningless, incomplete and empty.
We desperately seek help and happiness in all sorts of places, from all sorts of persons; yet still, our expectations remain unmet only to stay empty or at most, find temporary pleasure.
Growing up as children, we thought new outfits alongside cool music and a mouthwatering meal on Christmas day were so satisfying.
As days unfolded after Christmas, we still hungered for more and more.
As teenagers, we thought good grades, fancy lifestyles, gadgets and talents could bring contentment, but none did.
Now that we are adults, we think wealth, children, a good job, investments and trips all over the world would be enough for us to have a fulfilled life. Yet even when we have it all, we only wish the world could add us more.
Jesus is the bread of life
Oh, how it feels chasing wind! Don’t we do it all the time? We never chase God but think the money or multiple partners will satisfy. But do they?
That is not what we were designed for. God designed us for more than the trivial pursuit of pleasure.
Seeking satisfaction from the passing pleasures of the World is like chasing wind.
When you get exhausted and weary from empty pursuit, you feel empty-handed while screaming; ‘I need more’.
As humans, we eat daily, yet hunger keeps coming back. We drink daily, but remain thirsty. Who will quench our insatiable thirst?
“Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst again” (John 6:35).
God offers himself in the person of Christ to satisfy our enless hunger and thirst. Jesus exceeds our expectations, provides for our needs, and fulfills our desires.
God alone is man’s highest good, for He is the abundant fountain of all good. Nothing in this universe is able to produce true goodness, unless the good Creator is its wellspring.
Like I cherish to sing, “nothing in this world can satisfy; Jesus is the cup that won’t run dry.”
The Psalmist has a lot to tell us about satisfaction in God’s presence: “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (Psalms 107:9).
“The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him Shall Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 22:26). “In your presence, there is fullness of Joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Seeking satisfaction in Christ alone serves two joint purposes; it is to our good and to God’s glory.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him alone. As we drink daily from the cup of Jesus, it becomes evident to those we interact with that Jesus is enough and our hearts will “flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
Apostle Paul summarises this when he says: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
“I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). We do not seek and serve Christ because of what we will gain for Him alone, but because He is enough gain for us.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and grow in a relationship with Him, the Father gives us the peace, joy and fulfilment that surpasses human understanding.
He provides for our needs according to His riches in glory. Living in light of these truths proclaims to a discontent world that Jesus is better than anything the world has to offer.
As we look to Jesus to make us truly happy, we also proclaim to the world in need that only Christ can truly satisfy Mankind.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The writer is the Chaplain at Rukungiri Technical Institute under North Kigezi Diocese.
Email: bentamanya@gmail.com
