Fast Track to Dissatisfaction

A fast track to dissatisfaction is getting caught up in the things we don’t have, which may lead to jealousy and envy. It tends to separate one from gratitude, and that doesn’t exactly deepen one’s relationship with God. Moreover, it may affect love towards those who possess things which one does not. It could possibly bring a person to the point of resentment, from where he slides into the abyss of envy.

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

If you find yourself resenting those who have much, it may be time to do a self-audit, led by Holy Spirit. Resentment has no place in the Kingdom, nor does it belong in born-again believers.

James 4:1-5 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

Seeds Amongst Thorns

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus talks about seed being sown on four types of soil: the wayside, stony ground, thorns and good ground. The seed represents the Word, and the soil represents the heart (see Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:2-20; Luke 8:4-15). We will address the third: that which is sown amongst thorns.

Mark 4:18-19 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful.

This is not exactly a new concept; however, it bears repeating. It’s okay to possess things; it’s another when they possess you. Even worse is when the possessions of others takes possession of our heart. There are a number of rabbit holes in which we could explore at this juncture. Tempting, but let’s stay the course.

By allowing the world to dictate what should be satisfying to our souls, we allow ourselves to be ruled by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. All of which are the antitheses of our new nature in Christ. And of course, none of the things of the world has eternal value.

1 John 4:15-1 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Gratitude

Colossians 3:14-15 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

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