What does it take to satisfy you?

Scriptures: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (I Timothy 6:6-8)

A friend of mine recently came to the US from my home town and shared something he observed in a mission trip he had back there. He said, “You would think that, with all the technologies and the fun and entertainment thereof, teenagers today should be the most content and happiest people of all. But, the truth of the matter is, they are not. On the contrary, they are constantly complaining about being bored.”

Moreover, he said, “During the mission trip I had, I discovered something truly amazing. When I went to the country side, I saw a lot of children, because their parents went to work in big cities, were cared for by their grandparents. These children had very few games and very little material entertainment. Sometimes, they did not even had much time from their grandparents, either. To these children, if you are willing to spend some time to listen to them and to talk to them, they would be so happy. But, for those children in big cities, especially teenagers, it seemed like spending time talking to them is not good enough. They still complain about getting bored.”

He then reflected on the time when we were still children, with the little possession we had materially, we were so easily content. He concluded with a remark questioning the good of all these advanced technologies brought us. It seemed to him that all these material possessions and advancing technologies did not create satisfactions in life, but instead, created wants and desires that brought teenagers to a greater void inside.

This reminded me of something I learned when I was studying Marketing Management in college. One of the strategies to promote a product or service when there may be little or no need for it is to create the need by educating consumers through advertisements, TV commercials, and all kinds of publicity activities. Such creation of virtual needs had helped brought about the mass and rapid economic growth.

In many ways, especially in the areas of materialistic enjoyments, this certainly has contributed to a much higher level of living standards in many parts of the world. But, if we are honest enough, we have to admit that this approach has also changed the definition of happiness in life from being content and peaceful to being competitive and successful, from pursuing moral and spiritual to pursuing tactful and materialistic. While this is still not that visible in the adult world, it has become very obvious in our younger generation who has been called the leaders of our future.

The net result of this phenomenon is the emergence of a generation that is deprived of the true understanding of the value of the rich and abundant life in our Lord Jesus. As they seek to fill the void inside them, they will be just like what Apostle Paul described in the bible, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Timothy 6:9-10)

I wonder, if this phenomenon is a created reality, a result of the consumer education, is the solution to this problem also in education? If, through the creative use of mass media and technological platforms, this world can successfully change the focus and contents of the value system, then, shouldn’t we be able to do more and better with the powerful words of God?

I have seen Christian leaders utilizing radio broadcast, TV programs, internet and mobile technologies, virtual space forums, and many others to reach out to this world with the good news of our Lord Jesus. We have been commissioned to preach the gospel to the end of the world and we have been instructed to be “wise as serpent.” (Matthew 10:16)

I am convinced that the Word of God is more powerful than anything this world has to offer. Our challenge is to find out the effective way of delivering gospel to this lost world in a way most relevant to them in the most efficient way. We also need to reach out to them in the most expedient way possible because, after all, “the end of all things is near” (I Peter 4:7), is it?

While the search for ways and means to reach out to them is important and imminent, if we cannot demonstrate the blessings from such value system we promote, what good is it for others? Let’s start this effort by asking ourselves, “What does it take to satisfy me?” Is it our Lord Jesus alone? Or, is it Jesus plus?

May God bless us so that our lives show to this lost and twisted world the amazing riches of the life in Jesus!

Prayer Requests:
For all teenagers lost in the fun and entertainment of modern technologies

Prayer:
Father God, please allow us to lift up ourselves and this lost generation, especially our younger generation, to You. We ask that You Spirit guide and strengthen us to live out the glory and power of the new lives You have blessed us. Raise up from our younger generation maids and servants for Your kingdom and righteousness because we pray in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!