Walking with the Wise #504: True Satisfaction

“One who is full loathes honey,


but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.”
—Proverbs 27:7

What is frequently sought after, rarely found, and yet available to all? The answer is easy—satisfaction. Contrasted to the one who is full is the one who is hungry—to him, even the bitterest food can taste sweet. The point of the proverb is to remind us that satisfaction is in the eye of the beholder. The one who has much forgets to be thankful for what he has. He can’t handle that which is good. To the one who has nothing, even the smallest thing is looked upon with delight.

It’s amazing how much we miss satisfaction. All of our striving, all of our sacrifices, and what do we have to show for it? Nothing. True satisfaction is found in Christ and in the realization that what we have in Him is greater than anything this world has to offer.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’”—Hebrews 13:5.

Satisfaction is found in Christ and in the realization that in Him all of our needs are met:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs”—1 Timothy 6:6-10.

Be content with what you have. Don’t compare yourself with others. God knows your needs, and will take care of you as you order and live your life according to His Word. That is where true satisfaction lies—in lovingly and knowingly obeying Him. Amen.