When does enough become enough?
The number one rock and roll song of the last century was “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” I am wondering if that tune will also be the hymn of this next century?
Living a Satisfied Life
So how does someone live a satisfied life? Better yet, what is a satisfied life and how do you find it?
Can satisfaction be captured in the astrology page, the weather forecast, the Dow Jones opening numbers, the car you drive, the new career promotion, the influential friends that you hung out with last night, or the fact that your kids are not in jail?
A bumper sticker on a Porsche that once passed in front of me said: “Whoever dies with the most toys wins!”
But can contentment in life be found in the accumulation of stuff? I think all that will do is make one “stuffy!”
As a pastor who has attended many funeral services, I have never seen a hearse pull up to the graveside towing a U-Haul trailer. I have found that most people who have some hope for life beyond the grave are not concerned about the executor of the will when the value of their own life is being reconciled in their mind as the reality of death is knocking on the door of their heart.
Much insight can be gained from the words that the Apostle Paul used to close out his career as a minister for Jesus Christ. He made three simple statements that summarized the fact that he lived a satisfied life. He said:
I have fought the good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith.
When Paul finally realized that God had a plan for his life, he submitted himself to the Word of God and learned that godliness with contentment is great gain. He discovered that he no longer had to strive to prove to himself that he was valuable. He started to receive by faith the love that Jesus Christ was pouring into his life each day.
Un-surrendered Equals Unsatisfied
The grace of God was all the esteem he needed to run the race that was before him with joy and diligence. At the end of his life, Paul had experienced the faithfulness of God that allowed him to keep the faith and deliver to the world without shame the gospel of Jesus Christ, for in it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
The real secret to an unsatisfied life lies too often in an un-surrendered will.
If you are truly interested in living a satisfied life, it will start the moment you surrender your ways to the ways of the Lord. He will lead you to fountains of living water and cause your life to prosper and your soul to be satisfied. That faucet of fulfillment can be turned on today by saying sincerely:
“Lord, I am sorry for living a selfish life. I want to live a satisfied life. Thank you for Your grace and mercy towards me. I accept Your love and forgiveness. Please lead my life…Your way. I want to walk humbly with you, because You are enough for me.”
