"And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD" (2 Sam. 12:24-25).
When Solomon was young he enjoyed a special love relationship with God. The name Jedidiah means beloved of the Lord. When he first became King, God said to him in a dream, "Ask what I shall give thee." Knowing that he could have asked the Lord for anything, Solomon chose to ask God for wisdom to lead His people. Solomon was content is his love relationship with God. Jeremiah Burroughs wrote, "Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment." Solomon found great contentment and satisfaction in knowing God. But later in life the bible says of Solomon, "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father" (1Kings 11:4). In the Law, Moses warned against Kings multiplying wives and riches: "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." In the New Testament Paul the Apostle wrote, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy..." (1 Tim. 6:17). I believe that there is very little contentment today among Christian because they are trying to find it in the things of this world. Christianity has been hi jacked by the American dream. “The reward of the American dream is safety, security, and success found in more comfort, better stuff, and greater prosperity. But the reward of Christ trumps all these things and beckons us to live for an eternal safety, security and satisfaction that far outweighs everything this world has to offer” (David Platt). It is for that eternal and heavenly reward that great Christians live for, and as a result they make an eternal difference in this life. For example, the bible says of Moses: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). It's been said that some Christians are so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good. I haven't met that person yet. Our problem is that we get so earthly minded that we’re no heavenly good. Christians that find their safety, security and satisfaction in knowing and trusting in the living God not only find contentment, but are willing to take radical risk—to sacrifice everything for the cause of Jesus Christ. Guard your heart from deceitful lust with contentment by staying near to the heart of God.
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