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The Quest to be Like God

Everywhere we look we are being inundated with all of the external things that will "finally make life worth living" and will "finally satisfy you." We're told that "this" will end the quest of satisfaction every day from every side. Yet the Scripture says that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). Nothing will ever satisfy you but to be content in the presence of God, with the knowledge of His love for you, and the sovereign distribution of His graces, material and spiritual. They are the graces of God, the sovereignty of God. He has given us all different gifts and callings. We all fit into the body differently. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, they are what makes us unique, and that's ordained of God. So many of us spend our whole life trying to be something that we're not instead of being thankful for what has God given us. We try to fill that void with the different ambitious endeavors. We think if we can acquire this or that, then we will be satisfied. After the quest, we finally obtain it and say, "Is that all there is? Surely I thought that was going to do it." For some of us it is wealth. For some of us it is different accomplishments in life or our vocation. We say, "If I could finally get that corner office, that will do it." You get the corner office and you're still not satisfied. There is still somebody over you telling you what to do. You say, "Yeah, but if I could become Bill Gates, then nobody would tell me what to do." Then you get a note from the IRS and there is always somebody that you will answer to.

Jesus speaks toward that that dilemma in Luke 12, saying, "Life does not consist of the abundance of things." The abundance of things can be material but many times spiritual. It is amazing to me, having been around so long in different churches, to see the ambition in churches. We want to promote ourselves by being in the worship group, singing a solo, playing an instrument, standing before the people, teaching Sunday school. There is ambition and many are discontent. Because of that, there is strife. Nothing causes strife in churches more than the music departments. People want to receive their gratification and fulfillment in the Martha spirit. We need to learn to be content as Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, imbibing that better part of the knowledge of God--the riches of hearing "Well done, good and faithful servant." What do you think it will take to satisfy you today? For some of us we think it is a bigger bank account. For some of us it is a nicer home. For some of us singles it is getting married. You think that then you'll finally be happy. The Scripture makes it so clear to us that godliness with contentment is great gain. Our whole life is a quest to be like God and to be content in the process.

Are you rich toward God? That is what will satisfy you. Are you rich toward God? In this pursuit, in the quest for Christ-likeness, are you content in the process?

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