Satisfied?

"The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want."

(Proverbs 13:25)

 

Just thinkin' on God's provision.

My first thought is how abundantly the Lord has blessed me personally! I have a large and loving family. A beautiful home to live in. Food on the table every mealtime...and then some! A peaceful country where we're free to worship without fear. Books and tea enough to make anyone happy. :) God's provision for our family is been overwhelmingly abundant, and we give Him glory for it! We definitely have "enough".

But what I find interesting, is that what I've just described as my experience isn't always God's definition of provision.

 Consider the Israelites:

The way God handled them in the desert isn't at all what you expect. Instead of providing them with enough abundance that they won't be tempted to move back to Egypt, there are only 3 things recorded that He gave them to eat: manna, quail, and water. For FORTY years!!!  

"And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

(Deuteronomy 8:3)

Consider the persecuted Church:

Believers in countries where men and women are being killed for their faith in Christ...where mothers and fathers are killing their children for their faith in Christ. How is that God's provision? And yet He says:

"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." 

(Matt. 5:11-12)

Just kinda blows my mind. 

I think it's human tendency to think of blessing and provision in terms of what we have. But I think the key might be in the words "enough" and "want" in the verse above from Proverbs 13:25.

The righteous person is satisfied in what God provides. Whether it be much or little...he's content and doesn't grumble for "MORE!!!" The Lord Himself is his ultimate satisfaction and joy, regardless of what he's physically provided with. He knows that the LORD knows his needs and will provide what is best. He has ENOUGH.

The wicked man, on the other hand, has a belly that's continually dissatisfied. Doesn't matter if he has all the money, all the big houses, great vacations, all of everything...OR if he has next to nothing. Because he's just thirsting and craving for more and more. And is either spending his life doing anything to grab more...or spending his lazy life wishing for it. So that even though he might have "enough"...he suffers WANT. And doesn't even think about his spiritual needs! He will die without ever having spent a thought on things eternal!

Strange to think about.

Convicting...actually. 

:-O

It's so much more than "things". 

It could be work situation. Friendships. Marital status. :-P

"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." 

(John 6:35)

"How much" isn't really the question anymore.

It becomes more a question of "what am I seeking to be satisfied with?"

Will I suffer want, in my craving for [fill in the blank]?

Or will I find enough in Him, who can truly satisfy?

"For He satisfies the longing soul,

and the hungry soul He fills with good things."

(Psalm 107:9)