LIVING A FULL LIFE
What does it mean to live a "full" life?
In North America, a standard of living is enjoyed that is unique to the rest of the world. There is nothing shocking about this statement, as most of us are fully aware that we possess a huge percentage of the worlds wealth. A consequence of this wealth is that we tend to have a heightened expectation of what a "full" or "enjoyable" life should look like.
In our culture, we inevitably are led to the conclusion that a full life should include; health, wealth, prosperity, absolute freedom of the individual, experiential pleasures, beauty and so on and so forth. We are drawn to and esteem movie and sports stars because in many instances, these individuals appear to possess the "life treasures" that we long for.
There is, however, a serious problem with such an outlook on life. If we consider health, wealth and prosperity as necessary to a "full" life, what happens if: we are paralysed in an auto accident, physically deformed, struck by a worldwide financial collapse or wrong fully imprisoned for life? How would it be conceivable for us to enjoy life if these pleasures were taken from us? Does our existence grind to a halt? Are our hopes forever dashed- lives ruined?
If we insist on focusing our lives on such temporal ideals as personal beauty, we may indeed find that our world could easily crumble away. The question may thus be asked, if we do not ground our lives on these pursuits, where else would we look? What alternative is there?
Jesus said
"I have come that all may have life, and have it to the full"
John 10:10.
Jesus aim was not to obtain for himself a following of religious prudes but to extend to people the offer of life fulfilment. When we trust in him and in his teachings; when we focus on his purposes rather than those of our culture, he offers us more than we could ever ask or imagine. Whereas temporal pleasures may crumble, the spirit and love of God remains. No matter what our circumstances in life may be, if we trust him he will truly show us what life was truly meant to be.