Ecclesiastes 6:7: Striving for Satisfaction

"All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied." Ecclesiastes 6:7

Today, we take a brief look at one verse of scripture that discusses the issue of satisfaction. How often do you feel dissatisfied? I know that I feel dissatisfied more than I care to admit, and I bet that you do to. Nevertheless, scripture provides us with some wise words on the topic.

In Ecclesiastes 6:7, we find specifically that satisfaction does not come from our own toil. So often, we believe the lie that if we just work a little harder, strive a little deeper, and persevere a little longer, there will we find what we were looking for. Solomon tells us that that is a lie from the pit of hell. The devil is the only one who tells us that striving brings satisfaction.

Nevertheless, let us take a moment to consider how convincing this lie often is. The man who is unsatisfied with his job often strives to get the promotion. Eventually, he gets the promotion, yet still desires more. The woman who is unsatisfied with her marital status strives to put herself together that she might find a man. Eventually, she finds a man, but he is not good enough; she still desires more. Thus, we find that although it often seems that striving satisfies, it never will. Why? Because our personal striving turns us inward to ourselves, rather than outward to our Savior.

Yet, Jesus has words of hope for us. He tells us in John 4 that "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Whereas drinking our own toil only leads to brokenness and emptiness, Jesus provides another solution: himself. Jesus offers us the solution to our dissatisfaction, and that solution is not found in our work, but in our rest, as we trust that he alone will satisfy.

Thus, we find that satisfaction is not found in our circumstances, but in our Savior. This is what the psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 46 when he spoke of how he could "be still" even though the "nations raged." Ultimately, his hope was not found in striving to overcome his circumstances, for he could not. Yet, his hope was found in knowing that the Lord of Hosts was with him (Psalm 46:7), and in that every situation, God was still God (Pslam 46:10).

So, where have you strived to be satisfied? Let me encourage you this morning: Stop and rest. As a recent devotional I read stated: "Be still. Be quiet. Look up. Calm down. God reigns." Surely we all would do well to listen to these words. Amen.