Walking with the Wise #161: Finding Happiness

“The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.”
—Proverbs 13:25

God takes care of His people. Though we go through trials, though troubles may come, and though we may experience terrible tribulation, God is there with us. God promises to be with us and to bless us, but the blessings we experience may well be supplying what we need, not what we want.

Contentment is one of the most elusive and sought-after things in our world today. But no matter where we look, we can’t find it. This world offers contentment almost as a display at the mall, to be obtained by purchasing the next thing, or by having different stuff, or even a certain body type or philosophical outlook. But that is not how we can have contentment. True contentment comes through the knowledge of Christ, and then it must be continually cultivated through the crucifixion of the flesh, appropriation of Jesus’ resurrection life, and then the renewal of the mind. Once we are able to do these things, then we find contentment in what we have, not what we don’t.

Contrasted with the satisfaction of the righteous is the hunger of the wicked. The wicked never have enough—there is always the want of more, and satisfaction will forever be elusive. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” We can’t find satisfaction (i.e., happiness) apart from God. We may try to fill the God-shaped hole in our souls with all manner of things, but none of them will satisfy. Only finding who we are and what we have in Christ will satisfy, and it is to that task that we must continually set our minds. Amen.