Satisfied?

“I can’t get no satisfaction ... And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try...”
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones

Well, another Christmas has come and gone, and Madison Avenue is still trying to get us to buy whatever it is we don’t need but think we want. The buying binge most Americans go through each December is another refrain of the Rolling Stones’ song. Every year, December 26 sees long lines at retailers of people returning those items they did not like, that they did not need, or both. The wrong size/color/style is often the excuse, but I believe most of the dissatisfaction stems from the fact that we are supposed to surprise each other, and many times are not accurate in our guess as to what the other person wants. Why not do what many folks did this year and give a gift card? Then the recipient can pick out whatever is wanted. But will that satisfy?

I cannot say for sure, but I don’t think Mr Jagger ever has gotten satisfaction. The key being that he tried. The Christian believes that we can never be satisfied through our own efforts. True satisfaction only comes from God. A pastor I know puts it this way: We will only be content based on the content of our soul. I think 1 John 2:15-17 sums it up best:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.