Contentment is a struggle, right? We look for it in all the wrong places. Money, status, relationships, our favorite coping mechanisms. In Psalm 16, David reveals where he found contentment in life.
Psalm 16:5-6 NIV
LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
First, he declares his focus in life is on the Lord alone. This is written as a superlative! The Lord is my filet mignon, the very best of the best. God himself is the focus, not just the gifts He generously gives. He is the overflowing cup of blessing. (See Psalm 23:5.)
Secondly, David celebrates the truth of his life, his lot! All of his present and future life is safe and secure in the Lord’s grasp. Everything we place in God’s hands is protected. There is no safer place in the universe than in His holy, almighty hands. As Jesus himself said:
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Finally, David rejoices in the pleasantness he has found in his life. His life is beautiful and delightful under God’s guidance and care. His boundaries are secure and as is his inheritance. The Apostle Peter made similar comments.
1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is my prayer that each of us join David in his confident celebration of the gift of life.
Be Encouraged,
Pastor Rick