Years ago, when my wife told me she had entered a contest on the local Christian TV station to win a cruise, I said, “Kristi, why waste a stamp? Nobody ever wins those things.” A few weeks later I heard Kristi answer the phone: “Yes, this is Kristi. What? Are you kidding?” Yes, Kristi’s name had been drawn.
And so for a full week, we feasted on a luxury liner in the turquoise Caribbean. Every meal was scrumptious. The final night of the cruise featured a midnight banquet under the stars. And so, with a plate of shrimp mounded dangerously high, I made my way to our table to dispatch it.
After wolfing down four or five shrimp the size of lobsters, I wiped the cocktail sauce from my mouth and said, “You know what, Kristi? I think these shrimp would be better if they were just a little bit smaller.” Then, suddenly realizing the absolute absurdity of this statement, I blurted, “What am I saying? I’m complaining because the shrimp are too big! What’s happened to me? I’ve gone from being enraptured by every meal to complaining that the shrimp are too big! How sick is that?”
After a few short days, the most delicious cuisine in the world didn’t satisfy me. The more I had the more I wanted.
Why doesn’t prosperity satisfy us? Because our sinful hearts can never get enough. Ecclesiastes says, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (1.8). If prosperity could make us content, why are so many wealthy people miserable? Why have Elvis and Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes and so many others been so unhappy?
The first temptation involved discontentment – Adam and Eve were tempted in paradise – which shows that we can have everything yet crave THE ONE THING WE DON’T HAVE.
How often do we think If only I had this one thing, then I’d be content. If I just had a new phone, I’d never want anything else. If I just had a boyfriend, or a laptop, or different wife, I’d be happy.
Wrong.
Discontentment stems from the cravings and lusts of our flesh. But feeding those cravings won’t quench them, but will only make us crave more.
Only Christ can satisfy us and empower us to be content whether in need or abundance.
…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Php 4.11-13)
I can be content through Christ who strengthens me.
How about you? How is Christ helping you find contentment in him?
photo by Vincent Boiteau
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, Stephen! What an excellent reminder. My mom always reminds me that no matter what, I will always struggle with contentment. Marriage won’t cure discontentment. Having a car that doesn’t break all the time won’t cure discontentment. Living in my own home, etc. We will always find something to want. That has been a very helpful truth for my soul. When I struggle with discontentment, it helps to know that it will not satisfy. Knowing beforehand, that what I want is not soul-satisfying. Knowing that there will always (until the day I die) be something I want. This seems to help me to face my discontent (and idolatry/materialism) and see it for what it is. People and things are not wrong to desire/want as long as we don’t want them more than God. When I’m discontent, my all-sufficient Savior is not first….something else is.
Mark,
Thanks for your words of encouragement in this area. This is an area that I struggle with daily as the world tells us to have more, have it now and your deserve it. That by buying that new car, having the bigger house, getting a better paying job will finally satisfy your thirst. If I only had _____ then I would be content. Each day and many times during the day I have to remind myself that Christ gave me the one true gift that will satisfy my hunger, an eternal relationship with Him.
As we are studying Ecclesiastes during the summer months, I’m reminded that anything under the sun is such vanity.
Thanks,
Bob Z
Thanks Mark for a great word again.
To answer your question:
At the moment I am unemployed and currently looking for a job and/or direction for my life.
I also have very low money and am a young single guy who one day wants to get married and have a family.
Now, not [i]everyone[/i] around me is in a “better” position financially, or job-wise or direction-wise, or in a relationship, but a lot of people close to me are, and that’s quite hard.
But it seems like God is using this time to help me find my “all-in-all” in Him. I’m constantly having to remind myself that He is all I need and all that will satisfy me.
I have a book of quotes from an old preacher called Oswald Chambers. One of his themes seems to be along the lines of – and can be summed up in – this quote, which has helped me recently:
“In order to maintain friendship and loyalty to Christ, be much more careful of your moral and vital relationship to Him than any other thing, even obedience.
Sometimes there is nothing to obey; the only thing to do is maintain your vital connection with Jesus Christ, to see that nothing interferes with your relationship to Him”.
I think God is using this time to make my relationship with Him the most important. At times I get annoyed, wanting to “do” something for Christ, or be working or whatever, but there doesn’t seem to be anything happening/God doesn’t seem to be making anything clear, but most important is my relationship with Him.
Not always easy at all, but “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe”…
Hey Mark,
Great post today, I am finding the Lord to be my all sufficient provider. In this season of unemployment I’m finding that He is totally capable of taking care of my needs, maybe not my wants but my needs. Which is where the whole contentment thing comes into play, I may never have that job where I can afford a new boat or a new car every three years, or so I can get that new whatchamacallit that my neighbor has so I can one up him. I’m finding that we were made for more than this, more than what this world provides. We were made for God, He wants to be in intimate fellowship with us and sometimes He has to get us in a place where all we have is Him and nothing else. He is good and He is working ALL things for our good, and we can be content even in low circumstances!
I’m thankful for you brother! Thanks for yet another encouraging word today!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Tom:
I am in my mid-twentys and unemployed (8 months now) and currently looking for a job and direction for my life.
When I read your comment I thought that I had read the post and commented but had forgotten about it!
Mark, this is a great reminder! Its amazing how soon after you get that “one thing that, when you get it, will make you happy”, something else shows up that makes you want it.
Hi Yeller,
You’re absolutely right, when we are discontented, that means that something has displaced Jesus in our hearts…good insight!
Bob,
Yep, the world is constantly bombarding us to want more, but Christ is the One and only One who will truly satisfy. Thanks for commenting.
Hey Tom,
Great quote by Chambers. I remember when I was in a similar position to you (at least as far as I can tell by your description) – I was in my 20′s, poorly employed and at times unemployed, not married and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I felt like Moses in the desert, and thought I might be 80 by the time I got out. But God was faithful to me, and like you said, he used that time greatly in my life to draw me to himself. Your answer shows great maturity. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Ron,
“I’m finding that we were made for more than this, more than what this world provides. We were made for God, He wants to be in intimate fellowship with us…” – great! Yes, we were made to be satisfied by Christ alone and nothing in this world. Thanks Ron!
Hey Brando,
So true! That one thing….how quickly it loses its shine when the next sparkly thing appears. Great to hear from you!
Thanks Mark,
It’s always encouraging to hear from older and maturer believers who have “gone before” and have lived life a bit more than I have, who can encourage me in the goodness and faithfulness of God in life.
That does sound like quite a similar situation to me – Thank you for your encouragement.
And Mike:
Thank you too – it’s great to know there is someone else/there are other people who are going through similar things to me – not that it’s ‘great’ to be in the situation, but great to know I’m not alone.
I pray that we’d both find our “all-in-all” in Jesus and learn to perservere and be patient and trust Him to work out His plan for our lives, in His time and in His great way, for His glory.
I’m no expert, and struggle a lot of the time, but God keeps reminding me that He’s faithful – keep going and keep trusting Him! God bless you.
You’re welcome, Tom.
Even when God finally gave me direction, a job, and a wife, he surprised me in my first year of marriage, at age 30, when the first pastor of our church suggested to me that I might have a call on my life. Eventually I became a pastor, which I never would have imagined in my 20′s. There’s just no way to fathom the wonderful plans the Lord has for our lives. So continue to seek him as your all in all, even though it sure can be hard at times to wait upon him and to endure in painful circumstances.
Even today, there are still circumstances I’m tempted to be discontented with, so our pursuit of Jesus Christ as the only One who satisfies is a life-long pursuit.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for letting Tom know he’s not alone.
I needed that today… thanks.
ToilingAnt,
You’re welcome. I like your name – ToilingAnt – great name.
There’s a new iPhone 3G[S]. Now my dinky iPhone isn’t looking good enough. I want more, faster, cooler. Do you suppose somehow that’s like wanting smaller shrimp?
Hi Julie,
Yeah, I think it’s similar… actually, I think you should get the new iPhone 3G and give me your dinky iPhone ’cause my dinky LG isn’t looking good enough compared to your iPhone…..