Content

Proverbs 27

In this chapter we can break it down with friendships and how to handle them and what to expect from a friend. I would like to look at verse 7 not as one with friends and the words of friends but being content all together with everything we have, friends, materials, life, etc.

Are You Content

Verse 7 says, “One who is full loathes honey, but to the one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.” As this verse talks about the one who is full despises honey. He is one that has honey all the time. He is not satisfied with the sweetness of honey or the goodness it is but instead is turned off from it. He is tired of it. It reminds me of the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness and they complained about not having food so God provided manna from heaven. It was sweet and wonderful but as the Israelites had it everyday, they started to complain about it because they took it for granted (Numbers 11:6). As we read in this proverb that there is also the one who is hungry and even the bitterest thing is sweet to him because he is hungry. He would just long for the honey but is happy with the vinegar. This reminds me of the prodigal son in Luke 15 who was so hungry he ate the pigs food as that was food.

We do not know completely how to be content until we are in a situation where we need to be. When I was in college I had the opportunity to go to Cambodia. I thought I was a pretty content guy with what I had but when I got to Cambodia I realized how dependent I was on my comforts in this life. Not just food, or shelter, but even bathrooms and beds to name brands. Do they mark you? Do you have to have the latest thing, with the latest label? Do you have to have the nicest everything? You will not realize how much something means to you until it is taken away. I need to ask myself that question all the time. How would I react if I lost my computer, ipod, phone, car, t.v., etc? Would it ruin my life or could I become content in the Lord. How is one truly content, placing their life completely in the hands of the savior who died for you and me?

If I could close with this verse from Habakkuk which shows how our perspective needs to be. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”  Even if we lost everything in this world, we need to know that true contentment is in the Lord. Even when our savings is dried up, the cupboards are bare, are gas tanks are empty; we rejoice in the Lord because his love has no bounds, Christ died for us and that is what should get us through the tough trials in life. May we say, all I need is you Lord, all I need is you!