Making God our sole purpose does not mean we stop doing material things. It means our success or ultimate goal is to satisfy the Father’s heart. Not merely avoiding wounding God’s heart, but delighting Him, so we become God’s beloved children. For that, one must be willing to free the heart from the shackles of worldliness, such as love of money and thirst for honor. One must courageously change one’s lifestyle. Daily activities should be clear and purposeful. Our life must be fanatical in loving God, so it colors the people around us.
If our love for God is whole and undivided, then our thirst will be whole and undivided as well. At this stage, a person possesses true divine life. Having divine life means experiencing genuine growth up to the born-again level, where no earthly beauty can captivate the heart, and we can say that God is our only need in life. This is what it means to thirst and hunger for truth. In every event we experience, we must see what part God wants to shape. Our hearts must honestly see hypocrisy and sins we have not changed. Have a contrite heart before God so we may feel His presence at all times.
We must commit to the truth that nothing can make us happy except God. Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:6 indicates that only those who thirst and hunger for righteousness will be satisfied. Not a general satisfaction, but a particular satisfaction not experienced by anyone unless they are willing to lose anything. When we are willing to lose anything and anyone, we have everything, because God is everything. We cannot thirst and hunger for God without striving to understand His will, do His will, and satisfy His heart. There, we experience delight and peace that surpasses all understanding.
God’s Word teaches, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” This is achieved if we thirst and hunger for righteousness. If we are truly thirsty and hungry, it is impossible not to desire His Word and do it. Understanding the Word and doing His will becomes our delight. When we enjoy what pleases God, we share in His joy. God wants every believer to enjoy pleasure in doing His will, not to do it reluctantly or for God alone to rejoice unilaterally.
Indeed, at first, it may feel like wounding our own flesh when we leave fleshly desires, materialism, and passions. But in time, it becomes delight with God. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Many wealthy, highly educated, and worldly successful people are actually being led to eternal destruction. In contrast, Lazarus found satisfaction in God. This signals that we must understand the secret of true life
We cannot wait for God’s touch and expect to change suddenly. We must decide to change. Free yourself from every bond of sin, bitterness, and revenge. The Holy Spirit will lead us to wholehearted love for God. Eventually, we can say that there is only one I love, and that no one else is beside God.