Are You Satisfied?

How old is the clothing you are waring? A few months or perhaps a few years? I asked that question in our service this morning. One man won hands down. He wore a church two decades old. That is older than three of my sons. 

It is impressive that the shirt still fit. It  is equally impressive that the quality of the church was such that it lasted for such a long time. I am also impressed the man did not discard it for a newer version. 

I recall a trip I made with one of my sons to the "Pioneer Village" in Fort Worth. The village has real life log cabins from pioneer days. Upon walking through one of the cabins I was struck by the smallness of the cabins. In a closet hung two lady's dresses. One for everyday. The other for worship services or special occasions. Can you imagine anyone only have two changes of clothes. Now we have walk in closets. We have dress clothes. Casual clothes. Recreational clothes. Work out clothes. A far cry from pioneer days. 

Now let me ask you a few other questions. What would have to happen for you to be happy? Really happy. If you only had __________ then you would be satisfied, you can fill in the blank. How few really know true contentment. We are convinced if we had a new gadget or a new widget our life would be complete. 

Paul said he knew how to get along with abundance or to live with little. He said he had learned a real secret to contentment. His secret might surprise us. Philippians 4:13 (ESV) 
¹³  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

Paul said he did not speak from need. Paul knew need. He went hungry. He knew exposure to the elements. He knew needs and suffering but he also knew contentment in the middl4e of it. True satisfaction. Because Jesus gave him the strength to endure any situation. He learned to content himself in Jesus. A lesson it appears few in theUnited States have learned. 

We have bigger and bigger houses so we can accumulate more and more stuff. We periodically have garage sales to make more room for more stuff. We are enamored with the latest, the newest, and most improved versions of most anything. 

Are we wiling to learn contentment. To drive an automobile showing its age. To live in a smaller dwelling. To wear clothes that have a little wear and tear on them. To be as satisfied with a sandwich as with a gourmet meal. 

I have a pantry and refrigerator full o food. I have no worries about my next meal. We have leftovers after lunch today and dinner last night. Many people in the world have never seen such. They don't even know what it like to have a second helping at any meal. Such abundance of food should make us satisfied. 

Jesus strengthens us to enjoy sumptuous feasts as well as to endure being famished. He strengthens us to endure ill health and riches as well as sickness and poverty. Jesus is our source of contentment. He satisfies the soul not just for the here and now but for all of eternity. We want to learn this.