Chapter 2 – Source of satisfaction
John
8:36, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”(NRSV)
We looked in the
previous chapter at various things that people are addicted to – drugs,
alcohol, smoking, pornography and certain kinds of friendships and
relationships that are not beneficial. We also saw that for many speaking lies
was an issue and they are not even aware that it is a problem and have become
habitual liars.
There are others
who are held captive to bitterness, unforgiveness and hurts which they carry as
a baggage. Still others are in bondage to their mobile phones, to social media.
They either are constantly seeking approval from others or are enslaved to its
obscene content. There’s a word of caution in
Ecclesiastes1:8 ...”the eye is not
satisfied with seeing” and there’s always the desire for more and
more. There are some others, who are
even addicted to watching news on Television which they do so non-stop. Anger,
fear and worry are some of the other things that people are also in bondage
to. Many are struggling with tempers
that are uncontrollable, while others are in constant fear and worry over every
little problem.
Where does this bondage or captivity begin?
It most certainly did not
begin at birth. No one is born with bondage or addiction but as people grow
older, they very often pick up some sort of habit or addiction from someone or
sometimes from a particular place they are associated with. It most often (for
example drinking or smoking) begins with the desire to experiment something new
or with the urge to be part of a peer group.
Initially there is a combination of temporary pleasure along with
distaste and disgust too but as time goes by the person slowly becomes enslaved
to it. Once a person is addicted to a
habit they will always find reasons to justify what they are enslaved to.
Gradually what seemed to initially be under their control starts to have full
control over their lives. At some point many come to the resolve that they can
never quit the habit or addiction that they are tethered to.
However, if a person sincerely
desires to quit the habit or addiction, they can surely do so by the grace of
God. We need to bring every thought under the Lord’s captivity and believe with
all our heart the word of God which affirms this, “So if the Son sets you
free, you will be free indeed!” John 8:36 (ISV)
We saw in Luke 4:18,"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and
the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed....”
(NET) how the Lord Jesus came down to free us from
every sort of bondage and captivity.
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John chapter 4)
John 4:7 “There came a
woman of Samaria to draw water; Jesus said unto her, give me to drink.” (JUB)
Jesus is passing
through Samaria and he sits down by a well as he is really tired. A Samaritan
woman from the village comes to draw water from the well and she and Jesus
engage in a conversation. When Jesus requested her to give him some water to
drink as He was thirsty and tired, the Samaritan woman replied like this, “How
is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria?
For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”
John 4:9 (KJV)
Usually if someone
were to ask us for water we would simply answer yes or no. But if we look at
this incident, the woman was overreacting to a simple request by Jesus. Generally a person
in bondage will unnerve even in simple matters.
They very often do this, so others don’t really get to know who they are
and what they are enslaved to. They are usually hiding their issues and want to
appear good to others so they won’t be found out.
The next thing she said to Jesus
was, “Are you greater than our ancestor
Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from
it?" John 4:12 (NRSV)
She was now
distracting Jesus and started to talk about their traditions and her forefathers. She was in a way trying to get her identity
from her past. We need to be cautious that we are not satisfied with just the
mere traditions of men and neither should we gloat about our antecedents. There
are some who are in addiction throughout the year and then they are quite
contented with just abstaining for a short period of time, for example a fast
of 40 days. We need to bear in mind that traditions can only help give
temporary solution, but Jesus alone can bring about permanent change.
And then Jesus said to her, John 4:13 Jesus said to
her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,”... (ISV)
Jesus had to
admonish her that the water from the well will never quench her thirst for
ever. She would have drink this physical
water many times a day to be satisfied. This is very similar to a person who is
in an addiction. The habit is never satiated.
There is a constant desire for more and the person is never fully
satisfied. A person who is enslaved to something will never be appeased no
matter how much they have of it.
Jesus now comes to the main issue the woman was facing. In John 4:16 -18, “He told her, “Go and call your husband, and come back here. The woman answered him, “I don’t have a
husband.” Jesus told her, “You are quite right in saying, ‘I don’t have a husband,’18 because you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is
not your husband. What you have said is true.” (ISV)
The Samaritan
woman had a moral problem, she had lived with 5 husbands and was now living
with a man who was not her husband.
Jesus knew exactly what her issue was. There is nothing that can be
hidden from the Lord. She appeared good on the outside but Jesus knew her real
struggle. God will not judge us on the basis of how well we behave in church or
society, but in our personal secret life.
In her personal life she was in bondage.
Many things today
have become acceptable in society. Divorce and remarriage are no longer frowned
upon, but see what the Lord says in Malachi
2:16"I hate divorce," says
the LORD God of Israel. (GNB)
Jesus then
affirms to her in John 4:14, “But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The
water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring
them eternal life.” (ERV)
A man of God
explained it this way. A person had no source of water in their home, but kept
going to various other houses nearby to get water. But a friend who had come to their house told
them of a stream right in their compound and when they dug a well, they had
water in abundance and all their needs were met without having to get out of
their house. What a joy!
That’s what Jesus
promises to us if we receive the Lord in our life and receive the abundant life
he gives. Out of our life will flow rivers of living water. We will be a great
blessing to others.
In Isaiah 55:2 we are admonished, “Why spend your money on what is not bread, and
your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is
good, and let your soul delight itself in rich food. (ISV)
Jesus alone can
give us peace and real satisfaction. None of our bondages can ever do that.
Jesus is the only one who can truly set us free us from every bondage, and help
us overcome every form of addiction. It is certainly not God’s will that we
should live under bondage. As long as we live in bondage, we can never fulfil
the purposes of God in our life. We need to lead a life that is pleasing to the
Lord. He is the only one who can make
everything new and enable us to lead the abundant life He has designed for
us.
A prayer:
Our loving heavenly Father, I understand that the things of this world promise to satisfy but they do not and cannot satisfy. I believe the You alone can give me real peace and satisfaction, while all others lead me to ungodly bondage. I pray that every ungodly bondage in my life be broken and I submit to your Lordship, Lord Jesus. Thank you for giving me the abundant life that You have promised for those who believe in you. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord I pray, Amen.
A.Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by : Ms. Esther Collins
Email : goodnewsfriends.net@gmail.com
For audio : Source of satisfaction - Audio message in tamil
