“Standing Knee Deep in a River (Dying of Thirst)” is a classic Kathy Mat tea song, first made popular in 1992 and still often replayed on YouTube.
It is a moving song of a person thinking back over all the friends with whom she had lost touch, the sweethearts who had gone separate ways, and other lonely people she passed each day, who could be friends if she just reached out to them.
Most Americans are standing parched, knee deep in a river of blessings, but they seem to be dying of the thirst of discontent. The English word content means “desiring no more than what one has” The Greek word (arkeo) means “to be satisfied.” Thus one who is content is satisfied with what he has and has no desire for more. How many people do you know like that? What, then, are the springs from which the river of contentment flows?
SPRING 1: CONTENTMENT COMES THROUGH THE FEAR OF GOD
Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil” (Proverbs 19:23).
Multi-millionaire William Randolph Hearst invested a fortune in collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Hearst read a description of a valuable art item and then sent his agent abroad to find it. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasure. To the surprise of Hearst, the priceless masterpiece was stored in his own warehouse! This wealthy man had been searching all over the world for a treasure he already possessed. Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a lot of time and money. As Christians, we may be like that. We look for contentment in the world, though we will never find it there. Christ has al ready given it to us. The fear of God leads us to seek out God’s way, which in turn helps us find contentment.
SPRING 2: CONTENTMENT COMES THROUGH STRONG DESIRE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Athletes are said to be hungry when they have a strong competitive spirit. An aspiring businessman is said to be hungry when he is willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to be successful. Some are hungry for prestige, riches, honor, fame, or political office. These are not the things for which we should hunger (Colossians 3:2). God wants us to be hungry for righteous ness (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12–14). In so doing, He makes a promise to “fill” us. The word means to be satisfied with food; originally, it described feeding animals with hay. What is a better picture of contentment than a cow having eaten to the full and then standing in the shade chewing her cud?
SPRING 3: CONTENTMENT COMES THROUGH TRUST IN GOD’S PRESENCE
Only God has the ability to provide lasting satisfaction (Psalm 107:8–9). He promises to give that which truly satisfies: “the sure mercies of David” (i.e., the blessings promised through the coming Messiah) (Isaiah 55:1–3). David came to see himself as a sheep in God’s pasture, and there he found deep contentment. He wrote, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). What was it that Paul had in mind when he made the famous statement, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”? (Philippians 4:13). He was facing the challenge of contentment (4:11–12). For someone as ambitious as Paul, it doubtless was difficult for him to cool his heels in prison. The sentence “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is actually saying, “I can do all things; I re ally can!”
SPRING 4: CONTENTMENT COMES THROUGH TRUST IN GOD’S PROMISES
Paul’s contentment sprang from his confidence in “just as.” He told a pagan ship crew, “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). He told the young preacher, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
The knowledge that God always keeps His promises will grant us peace in the midst of any difficulty:
- When we are persecuted, we can trust this promise: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29).
- When tired and burdened, we can trust this promise: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
- When life is in chaos, we can trust the promise of “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philip pians 4:7).
- When tempted, we can trust this promise: “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).
- When we are facing sickness, disease, injury, and aging, we can trust Him to “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, ac cording to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Him self” (Philippians 3:21).
- When we fear that we may be lost, we can pillow our heads upon this wonderful truth: “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
SPRING 5: CONTENTMENT COMES THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
Jesus is the water of life (John 7:37) who offers an overflowing life to His followers (John 10:10). He promises to “give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts” (Revelation 21:6). To start this relationship with Christ, one must pick up a Bible and begin to study His life and teachings (Romans 10:17). This will produce faith in an honest and good heart (Luke 8:15; Hebrews 11:6). Faith leads one to repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:37; 22:16). Then one can drink deeply from the springs of Chris tian contentment as he/she faithfully follows the Prince of Peace (Revelation 2:10).
Aren’t you a little thirsty?
