Everlasting Good News of Yahweh

We humans are always seeking ways to satisfy ourselves whether it be satisfying our flesh, our eyes or our desire for power and wealth. There are, of course, many ways to satisfy ourselves physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually. Some forms of satisfaction have far more benefits than others. However, we can concentrate on satisfying ourselves in one area of our lives and totally miss opportunities for satisfaction in others. This article explores what the Bible says about self satisfaction.

Satisfying the flesh

Proverbs 16:26  He that labors labors for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.

Ecclesiastes 6:7  All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Proverbs 18:20  A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

We work long hours at our daily jobs to provide food for ourselves and our family. Yet, we are not content to eat only that which preserves life. We have to experience all the pleasure that food can provide by buying a wide assortment of snacks, breakfast cereals, microwave meals, desserts, etc. It just doesn’t seem to satisfy us to just eat an apple. Instead, we have to have apple pie, apple turnovers, apple strudel, apple jelly, apples in our oatmeal or stuffed in our turkeys, etc. The list of creative ways to eat apples is endless. The same holds true with all other fruits and vegetables. Of course, eating basic foods prepared in a variety of ways is not sinful. What is sinful is to allow our lust for food to eclipse our love for our Creator, Yahweh.

Philippians 3:18-19  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Messiah: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

While these four verses of Scripture concern the physical self satisfaction of our mouth (appetite), it can be applied to every area of our lives, especially satisfying the lust of the flesh for drugs and sex. Mankind works hard at satisfying his flesh.

However, the Scriptures give us a word of warning:

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of [Elohim/God].

Galatians 6:8  For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Satisfying the eyes

Proverbs 27:20  The grave and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 1:8  . . . the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Satisfying the eyes has become big business. Hollywood started out by making black and white films that catered to one’s mind or heart via comedies or love stories. Now we see films that are not only packed with adventure, thrills, incredible special effects and color, but in 3D as well. We also see films that are revealing more and more skin as the actors are clothed with immodesty. Of course, Hollywood would not be complete if they did not also cater to our lust to see violence and sex.

We also satisfy our eyes by buying the coolest looking cars, the most beautiful houses, wearing the most attractive clothes, gazing upon beautiful women or handsome men, etc.

However, the Scriptures give us a word of warning:

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Satisfying the desire for wealth

Ecclesiastes 5:10  He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Proverbs 15:27  He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates gifts [bribes] shall live.

Proverbs 21:25-26  The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.

Many poor people desire to be rich and many rich people desire to be richer. They have a notion that the more wealth they attain the happier and more secure they will be.  It is usually the case that as one’s wealth increases so does their lust for it. It is never satisfied. Most people are simply not content where they are financially, but strive to attain more via increasing their goods or their bank accounts.

However, the Scriptures give us a word of warning:

Mark 10:24-25  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Yeshua answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of [Elohim]! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of [Elohim].

Our riches may indeed bring us happiness and security, but only temporarily unless we do not allow them to draw us away from Yahweh.

Luke 12:16-21  And he [Yeshua] spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But [Elohim] said unto him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward [Elohim].

Yahweh gives people wealth, but we must choose to handle it righteously by not hoarding it for ourselves, by sharing a portion of it with those in need, by using it to further the Good News of Messiah, etc. If we handle it unrighteously, we will be the subject of James 5:1-3:

Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten.

Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.

True satisfaction

Psalm 22:26  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise Yahweh that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Those that are “meek” (poor, humble and/or afflicted) who put their trust in Yahweh and who praise His name will not only be satisfied with their daily bread in this life, but will be satisfied with abundance in the next life after they are resurrected unto eternal life. They will, at the appointed time, inherit all things from Yahweh who loves them.

Psalm 37:18-20  Yahweh know the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Yahweh shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Are you an enemy of Yahweh? You can become one of His children through believing on His only begotten Son Yeshua and receiving him as your Master and Savior:

John 1:12  But as many as received him (Yeshua), to them gave he power to become the sons of [Elohim], even to them that believe on his name:

Another way to assure you are satisfied in the things that matter most is to fear Yahweh.

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of Yahweh tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

To “fear” Yahweh means to reverence Him and to have a “quake in your boots” kind of fear at the knowledge of Yahweh’s mighty power over your life. When we have those kinds of fear, we begin to have wisdom and knowledge.

Psalm 111:10  The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever.

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Friend, if you desire to live a satisfied life in this world, do not seek that satisfaction through the things that man creates or from man himself, but seek satisfaction through the Creator of all things, Yahweh. He gave you life and He is the only one that can truly fulfill the desires of your heart. It is in His mighty power to provide food, clothing, shelter, transportation, employment, a spouse, wealth, and salvation unto eternal life for you. He is the only one that can truly provide you with intellectual, social, psychological, physical and spiritual satisfaction.

Yahweh upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that are bowed down. 

The eyes of all wait upon you; and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Yahweh is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.

Yahweh is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Yahweh preserves all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.

My mouth shall speak the praise of Yahweh: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever. 

Psalm 145:14-21