I Shall Not Want

By Ron Bartanen     The twenty third Psalm is more than a funeral recitation! In beautiful poetic symbolism David thrills our hearts with this psalm of life. All of life finds its perfect fulfillment in the love of the Shepherd of the sheep. But, while David certainly sang this psalm from personal experience, the grand significance of the Shepherd Psalm awaited the personal appearance of the Good Shepherd. With love for His sheep He would give His life in their behalf and gather them into one fold (John 10:1-16). With what infinite care the beneficent Shepherd sees to the needs of each Sheep! The feeblest among the flock are known of “that great Shepherd of the sheep”, and they know Him and hear His voice (John 10:3, 4, 14).     “The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want.” To the world, this may be great poetry, but the significance is lost. We live in a wanting society. “I want…” is quickly formed in a young child’s vocabulary. From cradle to cemetery a man’s history is composed of his wants and his efforts to fulfill these desires. He wants life’s physical necessities: security, love, recognition, appreciation, pleasure and as many luxuries as he can afford. Millions of dollars are spent annually to encourage us to want.  Every form of mass communication has been utilized to bombard us with word-signals designed to whet our obsession for getting things. The “have-nots” are convinced that the abundant life has passed them by unless they are able to get what others have, by whatever means they can. The “haves” are not content with what they have, but mortgage their future to obtain more.     But what of the sheep? They are to be the Shepherd’s “want-not” society, uninfluenced by the cravings of the godless culture in which they live (Rom. 12:2).  How tragic that this is so seldom the case. The Apostle Paul, who himself had fed upon the green pastures and learned therein “to be content” (Phil. 4:11) gives the assurance that “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (v. 19). Our “needs” may not be as numerous as we might imagine. Could we be content if they were narrowed down to the category of “food and raiment” (1 Tim. 6:8)? Would we equate as “great gain” godliness with these necessities (v. 6)? The world’s mad quest for things and more things is inappropriate for the sheep under the watchful, loving care of the Shepherd, who, having given Himself for us, would also “freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:38). His was no empty campaign promise when He assured us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).      Do not think, however, that the Good Shepherd sets a meager table for His sheep.  One spoke of himself “as having nothing and yet “possessing all things” (2 Cor. 6:10b).  He feeds us in lush pastures on higher hills. Would we learn that to truly feast in the kingdom of God will woo our hearts from the weedy pastures in the wilderness. A story is told of a poor country preacher who accepted an invitation to visit a friend in downtown New York City. One afternoon was spent in window shopping with his friend along the avenue, surveying the fashionable elegance on display.  Later, in his room, he was overheard praying, “Lord, I thank Thee I didn’t want a thing I saw!”     “The LORD is my shepherd”—His green pastures are sufficient.  “I shall not want” any other.

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

By Jared Green     In Horatio Spafford’s famous hymn, It Is Well, we sing the words, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’” We would love to always be able to utter the words “it is well” and truly mean them. In a world full of competition and constant busyness, however, true contentment is hard to come by.      Paul teaches the importance of contentment throughout his letters. Writing to Timothy, for example, he says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). When Paul fervently prayed that God heal his thorn in the flesh, God answered: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The result? Contentment. Paul told the Corinthians, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).     When comparing the Bible’s teaching on contentment to the temptation to continually seek more in this world, what is the basis for true contentment? How can we become like Paul? The Bible teaches that our contentment is rooted in the good news of God’s grace and what he has done for us. One of the greatest examples of biblical contentment is found in the prophet Simeon in Luke 2.      Luke tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man, and that he was waiting for Israel’s deliverance, like so many other Jews during his time. Unlike other Jews, however, the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that “he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). One day, Simeon was led by God into the temple, and he saw baby Jesus, who had been brought to the temple to be presented to the Lord. Upon seeing Jesus and remembering the Spirit’s promise that he would see the Messiah, Simeon took Jesus into his arms and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word” (Luke 2:29). It seems that Simeon is saying, “Now that I have seen Jesus, I can die!” I can think of no greater contentment than feeling as though I’ve gotten all I ever needed from this life and am ready for the next.      The question is, why was Simeon so immediately content upon seeing Jesus? In his own words, “…for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30). For Simeon, life’s greatest contentment came upon seeing the good news of God’s grace firsthand. May we all seek true contentment. God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com