Looking Horizontally For What Can Only Be Found Vertically

What are the things in this life that you go to for fulfillment and satisfaction? It could be your job, friends, spouse, boyfriend, money, or any number of things. All of these things are good things. They are God given blessings and bring a lot of happiness to our lives. However, a problem arises when these things are the sole places we go to for happiness.

We go to all of these worldly things, for example friends, to fill an empty place in our lives. We all have a longing to be loved, and to feel wanted and needed. This desire was placed in our lives by God. And he gives us a choice. Either we look to everything that the world gives us to fulfill that desire in our hearts (“horizontally”) or we look to God (“vertically”). However, only one of these is going to fully satisfy us. When we go to the world to fulfill the desires of our heart, it always leaves us unsatisfied. We will never truly be satisfied with something that the world offers, it always leaves us wanting more, because things of this world will always let us down. But when we look to God to to fill the hole or desire in our hearts, we will be fully satisfied. He is the true source of fulfillment. He will never let you down.

God is the source of all love. Yes, we can find love from our friends and family here on earth, but those people will let you down and those people will never be able to love you like God loves you. The Bible says that God IS love. The only reason that we know what love is and are able to experience love is because of the immense amount of love that he has for us. This is not to say that we should not love the people around us, because we definitely should! Our goal is to show love to the world around us. But, it is just important to remember where that love comes from in the first place.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

God is the source of all our needs. When we go through something hard in our lives, we tend to look to everything in the world to try and fix it. But, God is always in control and he promises to supply all of our needs. This may not always be in the way that we think the needs need to be met, but God knows what’s best for us and has a bigger plan and purpose for us in mind.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19

God is the source of all joy. In the world, we look for joy in all the wrong places. Things of this world only bring us temporary joy, but joy in Christ is everlasting. The fact that we are able to serve a God who loves us enough to continually pursue us throughout our entire lives, no matter how far we run from him, should bring us so much joy. He has given us everything, when we deserve nothing. He is faithful through all circumstances, so joy in Christ is something we will always have, no matter what, if we are a child of God.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

Examine your life today and see where you are looking for your fulfillment. Ask yourself, is this worldly thing in my life taking the place of God in my life? Am I relying on this worldly thing for love and joy and fulfillment more than I am looking for that in God? If you find that you are (we all have room for improvement), that’s okay! God is waiting for you with open arms with love and forgiveness. He wants you to realize your need for him and surrender that area of your life to him today!

Try looking vertically, to God, instead of horizontally to this world.

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.” John 6:35