Probably everyone in America and everyone in a first world country has heard of LeBron James. LeBron was probably the most ballyhooed high school basketball player in history. He has been the only high school bb player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. His high school team was shown playing nationally on ESPN twice his senior year. His team at St. Vincent-St Mary’s sold out college arenas for high school games. After graduating from high school, he signed a 20 million dollar shoe contract with Nike and a 19 million dollar contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. All at the tender age of 18! This year, LeBron was voted an NBA All Star and it looks like he will be the next Michael Jordan of the NBA.

Living in the Cleveland area, LeBron is big news wherever you go. He seems to be a good person, putting money into run down community centers and buying shoes for a class at a inner city school. Hopefully, his success will not go to his head as it so often does with successful people.

Many people can only dream about that kind of success and most never will achieve that level of success. But is this how we measure success? Is it by how much money we have, how many material possessions we can accumulate, or if our photo is on a magazine? Some people search for success at any cost, I repeat, at any cost. I believe that success is a goal for many people because there is no real satisfaction in their life and they are searching. Real satisfaction does not come by having a MBA, a PhD, or a BMW. Real satisfaction does not come by making a six figure income and living in an exclusive neighborhood.

There was a time in my life that what mattered most to me was making a six figure income and being recognized as being successful. My wife and I both worked for Fortune 500 companies in management and were on our way to reaching our goal. That is until God intervened. Whenever God shows up, things change and that is what happened with me. I left the marketplace to be in ministry full time and put my efforts into being successful for the CEO of the universe. I want to share with you how to experience real satisfaction in your life that will last far longer than what you can achieve on your own.

First, Recognize what’s missing in your life. What is it that’s missing in my life? What is it that’s not there? A lot of people really don’t know what they want in life. The Bible says we are spiritual beings and God made us to love Him and to know Him and be loved by Him. Nothing will take the place of that. There is no substitute. You need to recognize what your real hunger is. Your hunger is your spiritual being and you hunger for God. The sooner you recognize that, the better.

Second, Stop wasting your time and money. Quit looking for things in life that don’t satisfy, don’t meet the need. "Why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" Isaiah 55:2 (NIV). He’s saying, Quit wasting your time and your money on things of the world that really don’t satisfy. What you are really looking for is God.

Third, Look to Christ for satisfaction. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty … If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever!" John 6:35, 51 (NIV). Jesus is saying "I’m the bread of life! I’m IT. What you really need to live is ME! I can meet your needs. You’re looking for everything else, but I’m the bread of life, I’m the essential. I’m what you need. You need Me and you can’t do without Me."

If you want a change, take time to pray. Whether this is your first time to open your life to Christ or you’ve been a Christian for thirty years, would you take these steps with me? Say, "God, help me to recognize my real hunger." If you’re dissatisfied with your life, congratulations! If you’ve got problems, wonderful! God’s creating a hunger so He can teach you what real life is all about. Say, Father, would You help me to start looking to Christ for satisfaction. Jesus, I realize that only You can meet that inner gnawing in my heart. It’s not going to be filled with success, money or sex or fame or nice houses or beautiful kids or promotion or any of those other things. The spiritual hunger can only be met by You. I want all of You that You have to offer. God, I haven’t had a hunger for You but I want You to reawaken that appetite in my life that I might not miss out on the best in life and that I might realize that it’s found in You and not in all these other things."