Path to Contentment

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’”
John 4:10

Meet Abraham Maslow – he developed what has become known as the Hierarchy of Needs – physical, security, love, purpose and self actualization. The first four are the basic needs of all humans. Maslow and most psychologists would say that these four needs must be met in order to get to self actualization. Simply put our basic needs must be met in order for us to be complete, selfless and content people. It is how we go about having those needs mee that get us into trouble – not necessarily because we are doing bad things, but because we are depending on the wrong things.

As citizens of the Western world most of us have our physical needs met – so we strive for significance and security. Fancy houses and cars, high paying jobs, promotions, praise, adoring spouses and approval from others are the things that many of us believe will meet our need for significance and security. But the truth is none of those things can meet those needs consistently. Ladies your husbands are not intended to meet all of your needs – Men same goes for your wives. Money does not make us significant. Perfection according to the world will not make us secure. Depending on the wrong things according to some psychologists can well – make us crazy.

Meet Jesus Christ – that’s what the woman at the well did. The passage today isn’t really about water, although that is a basic need. Jesus is telling this woman and so us as well, that He and only He is able to meet all of our needs. If we are to become complete, selfless and content people – people who at our very core love God and others – we must depend on Jesus to meet our needs. Dr. Larry Crabb says “The truly well-adjusted person is one who depends on God alone to make him/her significant and secure.”

Now let me make it clear – having a nice house, a good paying job and fulfilling personal relationships are all good things, but they do not determine your worth. God determines your worth and He determined that you – yes you - were worth more than His Son’s life.

The path to contentment takes us straight to the heart of Jesus. Today find your worth in Him.

A prayer
Father – Because of Jesus, we are called daughters and sons of God – members of Your royal family. The stuff on this planet is for our enjoyment, not for determining our worth – help us to depend on the only One who can really meet all our needs and make us content. In the name of Jesus, Amen.