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Our Constant Wants Can Lead To Constant Discontentment

hldude

Member
"Our Constant Wants Can Lead to Constant Discontentment"
By Zach Wood
Psalm 23:1


As I begin this week's devotional, I'd like to share a few different translations of this Scripture.


(New International Version)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.


(New Living Translation)
The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.


(The Message)
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.


We tend to face many phases of discontentment in lives. If something fails or doesn’t hold up to the standard we set in our mind, we look elsewhere for the next promise of happiness or satisfaction. Some look for a new “high†when the buzz wears off, some seek out the nearest bank to rob when money troubles leave them desperate, and some resort to other means of false hope and desperation.

Has God not promised to supply every need we have in life? It’s important and vital to realize God fills our needs. I think so many times in life we fail to realize our needs are always met, but not always our wants. It’s because our hearts are being lured by what the world wants us to have. The promise of happiness from some of the wants turns out to last about 1 night, 1 day, 1 week or 1 month.

The ultimate entanglement that the prison of “want†leaves us in is constant discontentment. Satan will make sure we are never fully satisfied. We just want more and more. It feels like a need, but Satan has disguised it well in our mind and heart.

Placing too much importance on things we want has a huge effect on how we view our eternal needs. When we reach a point where we see our lives being filled with constant wants, we should take a step back and see that our soul desire and ultimate want should be our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It all comes down to what we truly desire. Do we want the Lord to really be our ultimate want? Do we trust in Him to supply our needs? Are we fully satisfied to the point where we can live without what we do not need? Can we trust in the Lord to provide what we need when we need it?
 
I am at a point where I feel that there is nothing left for me on this planet. The book of Ecclesiastes describes this well. It's not that I am suicidal.

But earthly things hold little excitement for me. The shallow needs of the carnal self become boring. It becomes clear that they're a bottomless pit, so why even bother trying to satisfy them?

Now it's only spiritual things that interest me. Which is why I joined this forum.
 
I am at a point where I feel that there is nothing left for me on this planet. The book of Ecclesiastes describes this well. It's not that I am suicidal.

But earthly things hold little excitement for me. The shallow needs of the carnal self become boring. It becomes clear that they're a bottomless pit, so why even bother trying to satisfy them?

Now it's only spiritual things that interest me. Which is why I joined this forum.

I think you're right. They are a bottomless pit. Rather pointless to try to fill. And yet to do so is so alluring to so many...
Ecclessiastes is probably my favorite book in the Bible, or was at some point. I felt it had a lot to say.
 
Even Ecclesiastes itself speaks of finding contentment and satisfaction in the things of this world.

What is wrong is becoming engrossed and dependent on the things of this world. In fact, God is very much interested in us enjoying the things of this world, just not at the expense of what really matters--the life to come.

I've been down this road. Don't make the mistake of thinking you don't need all that humans need and desire. Corrupted desires are what need to be put to death, not legitimate, holy needs and desires.
 
I don't think the desire for a home entertainment center is corrupted.

I don't think I don't need things that all humans need.

But with many material things, I got the most enjoyment from them when I gave them to someone who desired them more. Maybe this is OK too.
 
This is a powerful thread, mainly because i've been having the same thoughts. when there is nothing left to buy, what do we do? well first, the things you buy should be investments that you keep for a long time, be aware of what your buying. secondly, you should watch the movie 'into the wild' starring Emile Hirsch. true story. thirdly, you're right. Christ should be the center of our desires. all materialism in this world is under the fallen curse, that's why you might be feeling a spiritual thirst. you're on the right track. the fact that you've made this thread means that your desires have been met in the material world, and now you're searching for something better. i had recently sent an email to my preacher regarding this same topic, i asked him what do i pray for when i've conquered the material world and he said,

"Souls. Pray for souls and your role as an intercessor for those people
Yah has placed in your life. Materialistic stuff is stuff. Reach for
heaven and get closer to the Father thru the Son and in the power of
the Spirit. You have been focusing on the outside of the cup, now it
is time to love what He loves and hate what He hates."

"Very hard. Very challenging!"
 
I like Ecclesiastes. One reason I like it, though, is that it encourages us to find comfort and joy in our labors. As someone who, until recently, was unemployable due to sin and madness, this holds a promise: God will heal me, God will make me employable, God will make me a member of society.

I'm not saying that anyone on this thread is trying to be ascetic, but I know I have to caution myself against getting all holier-than-thou and spurning material things. The world is fallen, but there is good in it. Life can be good, even if its tough. To take an anti-matter approach strikes me as a sort of neo-Gnostic approach to Christianity.
 
I like Ecclesiastes. One reason I like it, though, is that it encourages us to find comfort and joy in our labors. As someone who, until recently, was unemployable due to sin and madness, this holds a promise: God will heal me, God will make me employable, God will make me a member of society.

I'm not saying that anyone on this thread is trying to be ascetic, but I know I have to caution myself against getting all holier-than-thou and spurning material things. The world is fallen, but there is good in it. Life can be good, even if its tough. To take an anti-matter approach strikes me as a sort of neo-Gnostic approach to Christianity.

Yeah, that's not what I meant. ^^; I agree.
 
To take an anti-matter approach strikes me as a sort of neo-Gnostic approach to Christianity.

i agree with everything you said, except for the last part. why do you think it's neo-Gnostic? what about taking the anti-matter approach when being persecuted, respectively noted. sometimes life doesn't work out the way we plan it, and God will test us. shoot, i rather be alone with God working things out with him than worrying about what the world thinks. i mean let's face it, it's 2012. it's backwards thinking to give up materialism in search for spirituality. but when we die, it'll all be left behind anyways. it just makes you think. i can see where Kaliani is coming from.
 
I didn't mean that Kaliana's approach is (neo)Gnostic; I simply meant that excessive rejection of the material world (provided for us by God, of course) seems kind of Gnostic in approach. Then again...I think maybe Christians, Protestants in particular, under-value asceticism. I'm not Catholic, but they seem to have more of a place for people whose dedication to God involves a degree of rejection of society. I imagine having such people--monks, nuns, etc.--enriches their overall understanding of God. Honestly, I'm hardly one to talk: I don't watch TV. Or movies. Or concern myself much with the secular world except when I have to. But I've always assumed I was just eccentric.
 
Well said CE. i don't know if i would ever be able to join a monastery, although i did enjoy the dvd into great silence. it was quite peaceful. i rather be a part of society if you ask me. there's always a balance to find.
 
I'm not saying that anyone on this thread is trying to be ascetic, but I know I have to caution myself against getting all holier-than-thou and spurning material things.

I think the people who get the holier-than-thou attitude are secretly resentful. They still covet what others have, so they make them feel bad for taking sugar in their tea and whatnot.
 
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