LACK NOTHING

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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One of the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of being a child of God is that we are free to find contentment as we live lives that seek to honor God. Contentment is the dream for all of humanity. 

•   We strive to have enough money so that we can finally be content. 
•   We search for the right person to add to our lives so that we can finally live secure in the love and care of another.
•   We seek power and fame in hopes that these things will satisfy and help us escape from our insecurities. 

Ecclesiastes

But the harder we work, the further away contentment seems to be. This was the truth given to us by the author of the biblical message of Ecclesiastes. Let’s listen to this message:

7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!

(Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 NIV11)

Fleeting

Contentment is a fleeting dream for those who are trying to obtain its treasures of security and companionship through worldly measures. The more we lean on the things of the world, the further we are from our dream of being satisfied and complete. 

This is not the case for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As followers of Jesus, we have been given access to real contentment and real satisfaction. 

Point

This is the point that we are going to focus on today as we get back into the message of Psalm 23:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23:1-6 NIV11)

Provider

As we hear all throughout this Psalm, the Lord is a provider for those that belong to him. If we are those who listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, we too will find ourselves under the care and provision of the Lord. 

In verse 1 of this Psalm we hear the words, “I lack nothing”. The Psalmist, (King David) demonstrates some of the ways that the Lord provides throughout the psalm but makes a clear point about the value of contentment in the gifts of the Lord by beginning this message with those words. 

Echo

David is here echoing the same message that we can hear expressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to his friend and partner in ministry named Timothy:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(1Timothy 6:6-12 NIV11)

Reflection

This message carries some powerful points that we would do well to reflect on today:

•    It is of great value to be someone who seeks godliness and contentment.
•    What we have in this life will not pass on with us in death.
•    Love of money is a trap.
•    Those that reject godliness and contentment will inherit ruin and destruction.
•    The love of wealth is actually a massive source of evil. 
•    You and I need to flee from the love of money.
•    We need to seek out those things that build up Christ-likeness.
•    We cannot be passive… we must fight the good fight. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that you are my provider, my leader, and my defender. You have called me to serve you and to live a life marked by those things that honor you and glorify your name. Help me to let my wealth serve you Lord and keep me from falling into the trap of serving my wealth. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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