What does Proverbs 27:20 teach about the nature of human satisfaction? Opening the Text “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” (Proverbs 27:20) What the Proverb Says—Plain and Simple • Sheol (the grave) and Abaddon (destruction) keep taking; they’re bottomless. • In the same way, “the eyes of man” keep wanting; our appetite for more never quits. • Scripture places human desire on the same level as death’s unending hunger—strong language that stresses just how insatiable we really are. Why Our Eyes Stay Hungry • We were created to behold glory; sin re-aimed that vision toward lesser things (Genesis 3:6). • The fallen heart assumes “just one more” sight, purchase, thrill, or accolade will settle it—but the void widens (Ecclesiastes 1:8). • Material gain offers fading pleasure; spiritual emptiness remains (Luke 12:15). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Ecclesiastes 5:10—“He who loves money is never satisfied with money.” • Isaiah 55:2—“Why spend money on that which is not bread…?” • Habakkuk 2:5—“Like death he is never satisfied; he gathers all the nations to himself.” • 1 John 2:16—“the lust of the eyes” describes unceasing craving. • Psalm 17:15 provides the contrast: “When I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.” What This Reveals about Human Nature • Our default mode is endless acquisition—possessions, experiences, information. • Desire feeds on itself; each indulgence sparks another. • No earthly object can silence the soul’s God-shaped hunger (Jeremiah 2:13). The Divine Solution to Discontent • Only the infinite can fill the infinite need; God offers Himself (John 4:13-14). • Christ’s sufficiency centers satisfaction on a Person, not a possession (Philippians 4:11-13). • The Spirit redirects our gaze from hollow “more” to holy “enough” (Galatians 5:16). Practical Steps toward True Fulfillment 1. Redirect your “eyes” daily—set them on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). 2. Practice gratitude for what God already provided; thanksgiving chokes greed (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 3. Choose contentment as an act of faith, trusting the Shepherd’s care (Psalm 23:1). 4. Invest in eternal treasure—generosity counters the myth of scarcity (Matthew 6:19-21). 5. Savor God’s Word; it is “more desirable than gold” and “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 19:10). Take-Home Truths • Human eyes are bottomless until fixed on the Lord. • Accumulation without Christ only multiplies emptiness. • God designed satisfaction to be relational, not material—fulfilled fully in knowing Him. |
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