Our Heart's Desire

"He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase.

This also is vanity."

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Wise king Solomon observed things people love and pursue will not end up satisfying them even when they obtain their desire.  The one who loves money will have an insatiable appetite for it after acquiring it, and those who seek increase are pleased with the prospects of a bit more.  This concept can be widely applied in this world of vanily whether it be tattoos, cosmetic surgery, praise, recognition, likes and acquiring goods.  People can make great personal sacrifices to become famous, and after they acheive their dreams they can hate and love it at the same time.

Because we are naturally restless and dissatisfied, we often busy ourselves with fruitless pursuits.  Though we seem to gain ground, our desire remains just beyond our reach.  There are those like Solomon, however, who obtained and achieved more than anyone could have been imagined.  Thus we have it on good authority that if we love silver or gold, gaining exponetially more of what we love will give us no satisfaction.  The psalmist explained it is the Giver--not the gifts--where true delight and satisfaction can be obtained in Psalm 37:3-4:  "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."  By faith in God and joyfully looking to Him to supply all our needs, we are assured the desires of our hearts will be satisfied.

Now this does not mean that our expectations will be fulfilled in the way we imagine.  Those who trust in the LORD and obey Him will experience rest, peace and be sustained by His faithfulness.  Making God our chief pursuit and delight will work to change us and begin to align our desires with His will.  Thus we can rejoice whether we are empty or full, whether we lack or have abundance, for in God there is no lack of any good thing (Psalm 34:10).  I recall a man years ago who was quite vocal about his dissatisfaction with his single status and sought a suitable wife.  He was disappointed with his lack of success, and based on what Solomon said a marriage relationship with a woman would not supply the satisfaction his heart longed for.  Marriage wouldn't scratch the itch of discontentment with God.  When our contentment is in the LORD, we can be satisfied in our Saviour whether we receive the gift of a spouse or singleness.

The picture of the sheep lying down contentedly in a rich pasture illustrates the life offered to all who by faith are in Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23:1-3:  "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  Even when Jesus leads us on our pilgrimage through the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear evil because God is with us.  Because the LORD is our shepherd, we have all that pertains to life and godliness now (2 Peter 1:3) and divine assurance we will lack nothing in the future for David said, "I shall not want."  Hear the word of God!  Trust and delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.