Shopping In The Sales

I went sales shopping today and was surprised at how quiet it was, compared to what I was expecting.

The post-Christmas sales tend to be incredibly busy with people rushing around, desperate to get more for their money.

I was amazed at some of the adverts on Christmas day for Boxing Day sales which started at 6am! It seems that, in this time of recession and financial insecurity, everyone is desperate to get the most for their money.

Everyone is hungry for more.

But I think even if I had unlimited resources, I would never be satisfied with what I could buy. I would always want more. There would always be something in me which didn't feel quite satisfied. Indeed, isn't the sole purpose of fashion to perpetuate our dissatisfaction with our lives?

It is easy to say we should be satisfied with what we have, it is so much harder to do.

There is a hunger deep inside all of us, and we try so hard to fill it and satiate it with different things.

But only one thing will satisfy.

Only one thing will give us all that we want.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

[Psalm 23:1 NLT]

I love the words of this song,

"Hungry, I come to you

For I know you satisfy.

I am empty, but I know

Your love does not run dry.

So I wait for you

I wait for you."

Instead of rushing to find our satisfaction in the sales, let's take our hunger to God. And wait for Him to satisfy us.

How Much Is Enough?

I overheard this quote today: "Since when has anyone ever had 'enough money'?"

 

How true is that?

 

When asked how much money was enough, J D Rockefeller - one of the richest men in the world - famously replied "Just a little bit more!"

 

We never seem to have enough money to satisfy us.  We always want more.

 

Not always a lot more.  Just enough to pay the bills and have a little bit left over.  Enough to buy branded food products.  Enough to not have to look for vouchers and discount codes to save a few pennies or pounds.  Enough to feel comfortable.

 

Just a little bit more.

 

But it's not just money.  We can easily find ourselves looking to other things to satisfy us.  Things which will bring us meaning and fulfilment. 

 

Money.  Fashion.  Accessories.  Technology.  Mortgage.  Careers.  Relationships.  Marriage.  Sex.  Children...

 

But none of these things will ever truly satisfy us - they always leaving us wanting more.

 

How much is enough?

 

God is the only One who can satisfy the desires of our hearts.

 

"The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

[Psalm 23:1 NLT, emphasis mine] 

 

"God, the one and only—
I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I’m set for life."

[Psalm 62:1-2 MSG, emphasis mine]

God is the only one who is enough.