The Discontented
1 Samuel 22:2 says that “all those who are in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around David” in that cave where he was fleeing from Saul.
Jesus Brings Contentment
The discontented gathered around him. Those who were not happy with the state of things gathered around him. And again, this is a picture of Jesus, because Jesus is not only the one who eases our distress and forgives our debts, but he is the one who brings us contentment.
Where are you going to try to find contentment, I wonder? Are you going to Jesus? Or are you looking to other things to try and make you content?
Money Does Not Bring Contentment
Many of us want more money so we can be content, right? But the book of Hebrews says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Be content with what you have. Don't keep thirsting for more and more and more. You'll never be content. And in fact, Paul's words in Philippians 4 are very meaningful here for us today. He said this “I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. And I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation with a well-fed or hungry, with a living in plenty or in what I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength.”
The Early Christians Were Content With Little
You see, for Paul, for the early Christians, they took their discontentment to Jesus and they found contentment there. Their hearts were full. Their hearts were delighted and satisfied in Christ and Christ alone.
I love these words from John Piper. He said, “At the greatest crisis of your life, when you need contentment and hope and security more than any of the time, your money and all your possessions take wing and fly away. They let you down. They are fairweather friends at best, and you enter eternity with nothing but the measure of contentment you had in God.”
Find Contentment in Jesus
Friends, if you're feeling discontent with your life, discontent with yourself, discontent with your work with the people around you, go to Jesus and seek contentment and satisfaction in Him. See him as the great fount of living water, who can refresh your soul, see him as the bread of life, who can satisfy you, see him as the only one who can bring you satisfaction.
And then, whether you have a lot or whether you have a little, you will be content. And so like those men who went up to the cave in their discontentment to be with David, let you and I go up to Jesus with our discontentment to find peace.
