In Proverbs 27:20 it says the eyes are never satisfied. Satisfied with what…our looks, our health, our physique, our home, our wife/husband etc.? In The Message version it says “lust just never quits.” One way I’ve found this to be true for me is walking around malls. I see stuff I don’t need yet the lure of “wanting it” is there. So I don’t visit malls anymore! That doesn’t stop the eyes from never being satisfied because here in the States we have TV, radio and magazines telling us we need the next best product to make us happy. But does it make us happy?
While I was living in Tala, Kenya where there isn’t a mall, or Wal-Mart, or Costco etc. I know for me those things don’t equal happiness. God gave me the grace to be content in Kenya and that meant, for me, not missing or wanting the latest and/or greatest things. God tells us His grace is sufficient, but how do we know that unless we listen to His call for our life and obey? How is our faith tested if it is never put to the test?
Now, I’m not saying everyone has to do what we are doing – preparing to move permanently to Kenya to spread the Good News. But we all must seek what God is telling us He wants us to do for Him and obey. That’s where a leap of faith comes into play. Is He asking you to invite your co-worker to church (the one who rubs you the wrong way) or start a bible study (when you’d rather be a participant not the leader)? Whatever it is you’ll find that yes, His grace is sufficient. We may not have all the answers, but you can trust in the One who does (Proverbs 3:5-12).
The Holy Spirit continues working on me and helping me to be content in all things (whether living in plenty or in want – Philippians 4:12). He helps me to stop looking around for satisfaction and instead look to Him for my self-worth and my purpose. I try to remember what Solomon said, “everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)