I am slowly making my way through the marvelous book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by the old Puritan, Jeremiah Burroughs. It’s been a wonderful experience. Time and time again I find my soul blessed in profound ways.

Today, I came across this little gem about why Christians are not satisfied with this world; about why Christians are not at all content with this world’s goods.

The peace of God is not enough to a gracious heart except that it may have the God of that peace…I must enjoy that God who gives me the peace; I must have the Cause as well as the effect. I must see from whence my peace comes, and enjoy the Fountain of my peace, as well as the stream of my peace. It is the same thing in other mercies. Do I have health from God? I must have the God of my health to be my portion, or else I am not satisfied. It is not life, but the God of my life. It is not riches, but the God of those riches that I must have. (I must have) the God of my preservation as well as my preservation.

“Whom have I in heaven but you and there is none upon the earth that I desire beside you” (Psalm 73:25). There is nothing in heaven or earth that can satisfy me, but Yourself. If God gave you not only the earth, but heaven, so you could rule over the sun, moon, and stars and have the rule over the highest sons of men, it would not be enough to satisfy you unless you had God Himself.

When one has tasted the sweetness of fellowship with God, His gifts, as wonderful as they are,  no longer satisfy their hearts. When you meet the Giver, His gifts no longer catch your eye for the Lord is better than His gifts. As Augustine famously prayed long ago, “Oh Lord, You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”