Find True Satisfaction in Christ
In a world constantly chasing after the next big thrill, we often echo the sentiments of The Rolling Stones: “I can’t get no satisfaction.” This timeless struggle for fulfilment resonates deeply with the ancient wisdom found in the book of Ecclesiastes. As we explore life “under the sun,” we’re confronted with a sobering reality – the pursuit of pleasure often leads to a paradoxical emptiness.
The Paradox of Hedonism
Imagine having unlimited resources at your disposal—the ability to indulge in every conceivable pleasure, from fine wines to grand construction projects, from amassing wealth to enjoying endless entertainment, from wielding power to indulging in sensual delights. It sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it? Yet, the more we chase after these pleasures, the more elusive true satisfaction becomes.
This is the paradox of hedonism – the relentless pursuit of pleasure often leaves us feeling emptier than before. It’s like trying to catch the wind or hold water in our hands. We might feel we’ve grasped it for a moment, but it inevitably slips away, leaving us longing for more.
The book of Ecclesiastes paints a vivid picture of this futile chase. Its author described as a powerful and wealthy individual, embarks on a grand experiment to test the limits of pleasure. He holds nothing back, indulging in laughter, wine, grand projects, and every earthly delight imaginable. Yet, his conclusion is stark: “All was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
Making Mud Pies in a Slum
C.S. Lewis offers a poignant analogy that captures this dilemma. He suggests that we are like children content with making mud pies in a slum, unable to comprehend the offer of a holiday by the sea. Our desires, he argues, are not too strong but too weak. We settle for fleeting pleasures when infinite joy is being offered to us.
This doesn’t mean that all earthly pleasures are inherently sinful or wrong. In fact, Ecclesiastes acknowledges that joy can be found in eating, drinking, and finding satisfaction in our work. These can be seen as gifts from God. The issue arises when we expect these temporary pleasures to fill the eternal longing in our souls.
An Invitation to Living Water
As we grapple with this tension, we’re drawn to a powerful encounter recorded in the Gospel of John. Jesus, tired from his journey, sits by a well and asks a Samaritan woman for a drink. This simple request breaks social and cultural barriers, setting the stage for a profound revelation.
Jesus offers this woman “living water” – a satisfaction that goes beyond physical thirst. He promises, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
This encounter reveals a fundamental truth: our souls’ thirst for something this world cannot provide. Like the Samaritan woman, we often seek satisfaction in relationships, achievements, or material possessions. But these will always leave us wanting more.
The invitation to drink living water is an invitation to find our ultimate satisfaction in God Himself. It’s a radical shift from pursuing the gifts to pursuing the Giver. As the Psalmist declares, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
The Source of Eternal Satisfaction
The good news of the Gospel is that God doesn’t just offer us temporary relief or fleeting pleasures. Jesus Christ offers us eternal satisfaction – a quenching of our deepest thirsts that this world could never provide.
This offer comes at a great cost. On the cross, Jesus – the source of living water – became thirsty. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), ‘I thirst.'” In that moment of ultimate sacrifice, Jesus was paving the way for our eternal satisfaction. His declaration, “It is finished”, marks the completion of His work to reconcile us to God and provide the living water our souls desperately need.
Responding to the Invitation
As we reflect on these profound truths, we face a choice. Will we continue to chase after temporary pleasures, making mud pies in the slum of this world? Or will we lift our eyes to see the infinite joy offered to us?
The invitation stands: come and drink the living water. Find your ultimate satisfaction not in the fleeting pleasures of this world, but in knowing and being known by God. This is what we were created for – to glorify God by being satisfied in Him.
This shift in perspective doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the good things in life. Rather, it allows us to see them as gifts from a loving Father, pointers to the greater joy found in Him. We can appreciate the beauty of creation, the joy of relationships, and the satisfaction of good work, all while recognising that our deepest longings can only be fulfilled in God.
As we navigate life in a world full of tempting pleasures and empty promises, may we continually turn to the source of living water. May we find our ultimate satisfaction in knowing God, trusting in the finished work of Christ, and allowing His Spirit to well up within us as a spring of eternal life.
In doing so, we may find that we can finally sing a different tune – not “I can’t get no satisfaction,” but “My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you” (Psalm 63:5).
Listen to Dave Miers’ sermon ‘Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 – The Pointless Pursuit of Pleasure’ in our series THE END OF FUTILITY: