Delight for the Dissatisfied Soul
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how both to make do with little and I know how to have an abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance and to go without. 13 I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:11b–13
How powerful, peaceful, and free could you be in this embattled life if you didn’t need
Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. —C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Let them thank Yahweh for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. —Psalm 107:8–9
The secret to contentment in every situation is building my entire life on the realities of the Designer’s design rather than the promise of idols
Musing on an Idol: Designed for God but hoping in people…
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? —Psalm 42:1–2
We cannot improve on God’s design by settling for manmade idols, false gods, or functional saviors
Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be
done. —Romans 1:22–28
** Disappointment from our idols usually leads to anger towards God that drives us away from finding that desire satisfied in Him**
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. —Ecclesiastes 5:10
But if we have food and clothing, with these things we will be content. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction. —1 Timothy 6:8–9
God’s invitation is to “smash the idol” and delight in Him
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” —Mark 10:17–23
Delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4
How can I identify my “idols”
1. What do you think about all the time?
2. What do you defend with hostility, wrath, aggression?
3. What can you not live without?
