Satisfied in Christ

The Good Life

TLK 5

Bottom Line: The good life is fully experienced when we are fully satisfied in Christ

Introduction

Week 5 of our series→ launching for John 10:10→ the Good Shepherd desires for you to live the good life→ the Jesus died and rose from the grave to give you

This life is unlocked through a saving relationship with Jesus and then lived out in wisdom→ living in God’s world God’s way→ go over first weeks slides

Today we are going to Proverbs to see if the good life Jesus desires for us aligns with one of America’s biggest messages that it shouts as it’s secret to being content

Satisfied in life, lacking nothing, in need of nothing

The American message/American dream is that contentment in found in accumulation

Get more, get better, upgrade, advance, new, improve

Satisfaction is found in better→ our culture tells us that we deserve more…. The good life is experienced when we get more

But is this what the Good Shepherd says the good life communicates to us?

Truth

Proverbs 30→ background→ not written by Solomon but rather a man named Agur… We dont know much about him accept for what he writes in this chapter…

Introduces himself is an odd way (v1-2)

He asks God for two things

He has something to say about a generation

Proverbs 30:11-16

11-15→ highlighting the wickedness of a generation→ disrespecting parents was a massive deal… punishable by death/stoning→ makes the prodigal son story a little more interesting in NT→ this speaks to the break down of the home in the generation

Pride→ I know what is best…. I am better than my neighbor… I can be my own God

Greed→so much so that they are willing to take from the needy

15-16→ source of all this wickedness→ there is a generation that is looking to be satisfied but cannot be… More is not enough so they need more…

Examples being used→ Sheol→ Never satisfied with the amount of souls it has… Empty womb→ (gently) unsatisfied with no kids… Dry earth during a drought→ always needs more rain… A fire→ does not burn out unless there is nothing around to burn

There is a generation that does not know when to say enough, to be satisfied, to be content in their circumstances…

I need more→ contentment is found in accumulation… this describes our culture in every sense

Possession→ you need an upgrade…. Phone needs an upgrade… home needs updated because it is out of style… car needs replaced because it is a symbol of social status and lifestyle… comparing

Appearance → you should look better than you do… Fitness culture is about obsession not functional health… beauty industry says aging is a defect.. Social media filters and edits so you look better than others… comparing

Career and achievements→ you should be further ahead… you deserve that promotion… get a hobby to be a side hustle so you get more… grind for more…. Work harder… get ahead… comparing

Relationships→ you could have better… there is someone better (social media comparing)... marriage is a solution to loneliness… perfect couple facade… comparing

Experiences→ don’t miss out… travel doesn't mean anything if others don't see your adventure…. $$$$ is tied to memories…. Comparing vacations and exposure

Parenting→ your kids need more→examples… comparing

It goes on and on and on… Where has it left us?

Todays Americans are in more debt that ever

1.28 trillion in credit card debt, 1.67 trillion in auto loans, 13.17 trillion in mortgages… household debt has increased 4.6 trillion since 2019

Divorce rates are through the roof

40-45% of 1st marriages, 60-67% of 2nd marriages, 70%+ of 3rd marriages

Satisfaction of Americans at an all time low

44% of Americans say they are “very satisfied” with their lives (Gallup)

Contentment is not found in accumulation→ accumulation leads to comparison… comparison poisons contentment… this is why Agur writes in Proverbs 30:7-8

God give me exactly what I need and let me trust that you will give me what I need and let me be satisfied with what you give me

More does not unlock the good life… more will not lead to contentment… to a satisfied life

So what leads to contentment and satisfaction? We want that!

Philippians 4:10-13

Paul knows the secret… Paul has lived in much and in nothing→ explain

Content→ a calm acceptance of life circumstance and pressures

Paul tweaks it→ to a divinely bestowed sufficiency through a relationship with Christ

Contentment is found in Christ→ Jesus is the source of true satisfaction… not more… not chasing around material and physical things that leave our stomachs just wanting more→ Jesus did not die /rise for us to be chasing things that leave us in want… He died/rose to be the satisfaction of our souls because He provides for us the only thing we truly need… a restored relationship with our creator

The good life is fully experienced when we are fully satisfied in Christ

Application

Satisfied in Christ

Christ satisfies our need for deep security–. Not our relationship with someone else, our job, our talent, our online presence….

Christ satisfies the deep hunger of our soul→ recognizing that car, that relationship, that house, that bank account, that social status, that title is not going fill our soul with lasting satisfaction… only God can

Jesus bring us contentment through our union with Him

He becomes our treasure

2 questions to help gauge where you are at

What do I believe I need to be satisfied? (functional savior)

Where is comparison poisoning my contentment? (one area)

Personal story about discontentment in ministry→ where it led and how God pulled me out…

1 Challenge

Thank God for what you have daily

Gratitude guides your contentment… being thankful builds up satisfaction

The good life is fully experienced when we are fully satisfied in Christ