They'll eat and be as hungry as ever, have sex and get no satisfaction. They walked out on me, their God, for a life of rutting with whores.
(Hosea 4:10 The Message)
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I was thinking of grabbing a book on leadership today. I ended up sitting down and reading the first chapter of The Starbucks Experience, but I have to say I almost walked away from that section of Barnes and Nobles sickened. One of the first titles to catch my eye was A Million is Not Enough. WHAT?! And just what is? But why stop there we can always read The First Billion is the Hardest. I'm serious. These are real books. My goodness, when is enough, enough?
Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in this past Olympics. Before he even got home he was fielding interviews with talks of the London Olympics four years from now. Apparently he wasn't satisfied with some of his times and wants to break a few more records. Beyond that, he wants to add the backstroke to his repertoire. Michael when is enough, enough?
"The first one is always free" is a mantra that the drug dealer lives by. He knows that that first hit is going to give you such an experience that you will be coming back for more. Each time you come back, the high won't be quite as good but the need will be that much greater. Soon you aren't even concerned with the high. You simply want desperately the next fix to complete the urge the desire the void that is growing inside you.
The same is true with pornography or sexual immorality. The same is true with seeking your fulfillment in relationships. The same is true with TV. Or with games. Or with collecting material possessions. Forget that if you're marrying so that you can be complete or fulfilled, it will never work. Nothing will ever be enough. Nothing can fill the God sized hole in our hearts except God. Yes, sometimes it may seem as though what we have is doing the trick but not for long. Soon we'll be leaving that behind and moving on to the new, the next, the other.
In the end I think we are all lost and unfulfilled souls looking for something to quench our thirst. But the minute you drink from the cup you always want more or to try a different flavor. Perhaps when you learn to be satisfied then you have reached a point that you are happy. I would not know I have always been searching and nothing was never enough. Now I question everything I do.
Juliana, I'm going to quote one of my favorite authors:
"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
He didn't write in English so it's an imperfect translation. Another one puts it this way:
"for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I've often seen people quoting the second half of what Paul is saying here as if it were a guarantee of success no matter what we do. That is true only if we get a better understanding of success. If we're talking about the most money, the best car or house, the beautiful spouse... No. No. A thousand times no. If we're talking about being at peace with yourself. If we're talking about living a happy and fulfilled life, then yes. That is exactly what this verse is saying.
I have found the secret of being content in every situation. Everything I do... I do through Christ who gives me strength. Then if I have a nice car or I'm riding my bike all across Binghamton, I am content. Whether I find that beautiful someone or live the rest of my life a bachelor, I am content. Whether I win the lotto or continue to barely scrape by paycheck to paycheck, I am content. All of Christ is more than enough for all of me.
