Contentment

One of the most famous songs in Rock and Roll history is “I can’t get no satisfaction” by the Rollings Stones. It is an anthem of frustration. It voices the cry of so many people who try to find satisfaction in material possessions, sex or any means besides God. We see this fruitless search for satisfaction in most people. We see warnings in the ten commandments about having no other gods and no coveting (Exodus 20:3, 17). Both clarifying that satisfaction will not be found in false gods, or other people’s stuff or even their relationships. In contrast to the dead ends most try, theologian Augustine once said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
Two people from the Scriptures show us both the dead ends so many pursue and the answer Augustine shared. In the Hebrew Scriptures we see King Solomon pursue satisfaction and contentment by pursuing wealth, wisdom and women. In the spirit of Solomon today many spend money they cannot afford to spend on lottery tickets or gambling in some form hoping that they will win the “big prize” and find satisfaction. For fifty seasons people have gone on Survivor leaving their families for weeks pursuing the coveted million-dollar prize. Often, they will lie and break alliances to achieve victory. Mr. Beast often produces experiments to see what people will do to win large amounts of money. These experiments are often interesting and entertaining and yet disconcerting. What will you do for the promise of MORE? What will I do?
In the New Testament we meet Saul, a Jewish religious leader. His attempt at satisfaction is radically different from Solomon’s but still a dead end. He attempts to find satisfaction through self-righteous holiness. He was a Jew of Jews. He was respected by his peers. He was a moral pillar in the eyes of the people. He received regular “atta boys” from his community. He studied under a renowned rabbi. His parents were probably very proud.
Yet both men, Solomon and Saul, described their attempts to find satisfaction as meaningless (Solomon) or rubbish (Saul). Whether Solomon’s pursuit of sexual pleasure or Saul’s pursuit of pride, both found them to be dead ends. However, God did not leave them there among the ruins of their own making, Solomon a miserable millionaire or Saul an angry, violent religious zealot. God accepted Solomon’s late life repentance. Solomon found the secret of life was to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)” In a phrase satisfaction was found in a relationship with God. Revere Him and obey and serve him. In another dramatic scene of repentance Saul meets the risen Christ on the road to persecute Christians. Proud Saul became Paul (which means little). Pride collapsed and humility grew. Self-righteousness melted before grace which is simply unmerited favor. Coming to genuinely know God is the key to satisfaction for Solomon and Saul and everyone of us.
In Christ, we find forgiveness of sins, meaning, purpose and new life. And yes contentment. We can embrace the word enough when it comes to possessions. We can step away from the relentless pursuit of satisfaction and simply rest in our relationship with God.
 It is my hope that some day each of us can say. “Yes, I am content.”

Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church