What does the Bible say about finding satisfaction in life?

But as there is this sphere of death, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is also a sphere of life. And just as in the sphere of death men have their objects, objects which can never satisfy the craving of the heart, so in the sphere of life men have their objects, objects which are infinitely great, and which make the cup of happiness overflow. God revealed in Jesus, the Father and the Son. What heart could contain all the joy that flows from the knowledge of such Persons? The people that dwell in this sphere do not need to seek happiness—they have found it. They have reached the spring and fountain of all life and perfect felicity. Here they have everything that in the whole universe is worth having. They no longer have the sense of need. They hunger no more. Their thirst is for ever quenched. They have come into the region of satisfied desire. They have got within them a fountain that springs up into eternal life, And “This is the life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John 17). Such were once in the sphere of death, but they have “passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). They have reached the true Centre and Source of all content. They have reached the Fountain of all lasting pleasure, and their joy is full.

Satisfaction is a flower that springs not out of the soil of this world. Happiness, felicity, bliss, joy, are utterly unknown in this garden in which man hopes to find all his delights, but finds instead of these things, grief, worry, affliction, misery, wretchedness, bitterness, and despair. Satisfaction cannot be found in this world, that is, as belonging to it, or as having originated in it. It belongs to another world and another order of man than can be found amid the strife and contention of a world at variance with God. The characteristics found amongst men of this world are murmurings, complainings, grumblings, groanings and fault finding with others, and self-justification regarding themselves. Satisfaction could not be found by the greatest moral analyst, however determined he might be to discover it. In vain he would seek for it. It is a plant that does not grow out of the soil of this world. “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Eccl. 1:8). “He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase” (Ecc. 5:10). Lust and pride know nothing about satisfaction; and that is all that is in this world (1 John 2:15).

Let us notice that true satisfaction is not found in any way in present circumstances. We shall only be satisfied when we see the Lord Himself, awaking in His likeness. In the meanwhile, it is good if we learn, as Paul did, to be content with whatever circumstances the Lord has given us on earth. Paul wrote, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11). To be content is a learning process, which none of us can do without, but satisfaction is not learned through trying circumstances, but will be furnished to us absolutely and perfectly only by being in the presence of the Lord and being like Him. Wonderful anticipation!

Well, there are certain great results that flow from this. The Psalm does not close without revealing to us what flows from God's objective being made man's objective, and that is, that there is most evident blessing. At the end of the Psalm you have the Lord accepting what David did, saying in fact, "David, you have done the right thing; you have brought the Ark into the right place." The Lord immediately adds," I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." Emphasize in your thoughts for one moment those two words, "I will bless." "I will satisfy." The blessing into which Christians are brought is soul-satisfying blessing. How few satisfied people there are! Never was the world so full of objects of art and of delight; never were there so many charming and beautiful things, and yet men to-day are more absolutely dissatisfied than they ever were. Every body has a grievance; everybody is ready to grumble. Are we Christians, I should like to ask, marked by soul satisfaction? Do you, where you work, in the circles where you move, give people the impression of one who, not like the majority of folk, has reached satisfaction. Oh, when God blesses and when our souls are fully in the enjoyment of His presence, we become satisfied. We have read, perhaps, of those great cyclones that sweep over tropical lands. Somewhere in the centre of those terrific hurricanes there is a great calm. There is a devastating wind for hours, followed by a deep calm for ten or twenty minutes, and then the wind begins to rage in the opposite direction. That means that the centre of the cyclone has passed over our heads. The tumult of the world is like the cyclone. The devil himself is the source of it, but at the centre there is a calm. To have the soul centred on Christ, God's Son, means blessing and it means satisfaction.

It should be evident to all that if men dwelt together as being of one blood and were contented to abide within those bounds set for them by God, humanity would not be disgraced by strife and bloodshed. But the history of the world is one long record of man's insubjection to God's ordering in this respect. Not that a man's habitation is sufficient to satisfy his heart no matter how wide the bounds of it may be. Alexander got the whole world, and then wept like a disappointed child because there were no others that he could get. God's intention was that men should seek after Him, for it is in Him alone that the human heart can find satisfaction, and when God is found by a man he is contented with his lot. So we read — "Godliness with contentment is great gain."

So long as the heart of any one is seeking rest, satisfaction, or happiness in this world, it will surely be disappointed. The result in every case must be bitter disappointment, for it can only reap from such a soil, "vanity and vexation of spirit." The heart of man is too large for this world to fill. Its capabilities are too vast for all that is under the heavens to satisfy. And yet how eagerly many are chasing after the fleeting phantoms of time, to the entire neglect of the solemn realities of eternity! But supposing that every desired object were reached, and all possessed, what would be gained? Only a deeper sense that all is vanity — that it is not in the power of earthly good to fill up the aching void within. All worldly pleasures, amusements, indulgences, and gratifications, leave the soul more thirsty than ever: they cannot satisfy. Excitement is the right name for worldly pleasures — take that away, and they would prove a most burdensome task. They only increase the painful sense of want, with an intensified desire, which makes the poor neglected soul thoroughly miserable. There is a worm at the root of every gourd, and a thorn in earth's fairest flower.

Such is the withering commentary upon all earth's resources as given by the pen of one who had all that earth could give — of one who was allowed to drain to the very dregs every cup of human and earthly pleasure. And what was it all? "Vanity and vexation of spirit." "All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." The poor human heart can never be satisfied with the resources of earth. Creature streams can never quench the thirst of the immortal soul. Material things cannot possibly make us truly happy, even if they were permanent. "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."

It is a wonderfully blessed thing to be able to say, "I have found an object which perfectly satisfies my heart — I have found Christ." It is this which gives true elevation above the world. It renders us thoroughly independent of the resources to which the unconverted heart ever betakes itself. It gives settled rest. It imparts a calmness and quietness to the spirit which the world cannot comprehend. The poor votary of the world may think the life of the true Christian a very slow, dull, stupid affair indeed. He may marvel how such an one can manage to get on without what he calls amusement, recreation, and pleasure; no theatres — no balls or parties — no concerts — no cards or billiards — no hunts or races — no club or news-room — no cricket or croquet parties.

The deliverance of God comes as favour and an answer to the soul, and is full of sweetness. His faithfulness to the state and expectation is felt. Hence, on receiving the blessing, thankfulness (not merely enjoying the blessing) is the fruit, and, "I love the Lord." Hence sweet associations of soul are connected with it. It is felt that the Lord has dealt bountifully. The soul returns to its rest, faith had been at work before. The soul believed and spoke as trusting God, but was sore troubled - now finds the God it thus trusted its source of joy and blessing, not, mark, the blessing it gets. The soul was turned to Him, not to comfort, in the trouble. It is turned to Him now in the time of joy. The Lord Himself is before the soul, its source of blessing.

The world is full of unsatisfied desire, which leads to covetousness. The word to us is, "Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have" (Heb. 13:5). "Satisfied with your present circumstances" (N. Tr.). Are our present circumstances then so very desirable; are they just what they should be? They are the very reverse of that. They are so undesirable that a clean sweep will be made of them immediately this age closes. Why then are we to be satisfied with them? Because as Hebrews 12 has shown, they are appointed of God to act as chastening and discipline for us, and also because He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." That is it. We may be satisfied in the midst of present circumstances because there is guaranteed to us the abiding presence of the One for whom we thirst.

It is not that we are to be satisfied with the circumstances themselves. There can be no rest, let alone satisfaction, with circumstances that are full of sin and sorrow and death. We are to be satisfied with them by being in touch with Him who is the Source of satisfaction while we are in the midst of the circumstances: so satisfied that we are filled with praise. In the Psalm the words, "My soul shall be satisfied," are surrounded with expressions of praise. "Thus will I bless Thee while I live." And again, "My mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.