1 Timothy 6:6-8 tells us, ”Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”
The truth is we are never satisfied. As Max Lucado says, “We take a vacation of a lifetime… We satiate ourselves with sun, fun, and good food. But we are not even on the way home before we dread the end of the trip and begin planning another. As a child we say, ‘If only I were a teenager.’ As a teen we say, ‘If only I were married.’ As a spouse, ‘If only I had kids.’ As an adult, ‘If only I could be young again.’ We are not satisfied. Contentment is a difficult virtue.” But why is this?
There is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. We long to see and know God from the deepest parts of our souls. This longing is there in each of us, tossing to and fro like the rustling waves of the ocean and the howling winds of the mountains. It is there because each of us is created in the image of God, and God’s Spirit is in us. You may not know it; but that longing is truly there – it is hope in what we do not see – hope in what we expect to be!
1 Timothy 6:6-8 tells us, ”Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”
The truth is we are never satisfied. As Max Lucado says, “We take a vacation of a lifetime… We satiate ourselves with sun, fun, and good food. But we are not even on the way home before we dread the end of the trip and begin planning another. As a child we say, ‘If only I were a teenager.’ As a teen we say, ‘If only I were married.’ As a spouse, ‘If only I had kids.’ As an adult, ‘If only I could be young again.’ We are not satisfied. Contentment is a difficult virtue.” But why is this?
There is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. We long to see and know God from the deepest parts of our souls. This longing is there in each of us, tossing to and fro like the rustling waves of the ocean and the howling winds of the mountains. It is there because each of us is created in the image of God, and God’s Spirit is in us. You may not know it; but that longing is truly there – it is hope in what we do not see – hope in what we expect to be!
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 