Contentment

Contentment

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Contentment should be the hallmark of the person who has put his or her affairs in the hands of God.^a To be content, we must have an accurate picture of who God is and who we are. Looking at the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep helps us to better understand that picture.

Throughout the Bible God is described as the Good Shepherd, and people are sometimes likened to sheep. King David was a boyhood shepherd himself, and he knew that sheep are very needy. The lot in life of any one sheep depended on the shepherd who cared for it. A shepherd could be kind, thoughtful, and wise, or he could be mean, inconsiderate, and irresponsible. When we see God as our shepherd, we realize that we have the very best care available. Our shepherd is all-powerful and all-knowing. He never sleeps, and he cares about us individually because he gave us life and sustains us.

In order to be content, sheep must have freedom from fear, tension, aggravation, and hunger. It is the job of the shepherd to provide these freedoms by driving away predators, providing food and water, and keeping the sheep from other harm. God provides us with his Spirit to minister security, peace, and hope, and he gives his Word to feed us.

When we as needy people understand that we gain the very presence of God in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we realize the contentment that God intends for each one of us. He is the shepherd of our souls, and only he can provide true contentment.

Father,

Thank you that you describe yourself as our shepherd. We’re grateful that we can find our contentment in you. Amen.