God Focus 定睛上帝
Dexu Xia
Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
When I was shopping for engagement rings, I spent many hours looking for exactly the right diamond. I was plagued by the thought, What if I miss the best one?
According to economic psychologist Barry Schwartz, my chronic indecision indicates that I am what he calls a “maximizer,” in contrast to a “satisficer.” A satisficer makes choices based on whether something is adequate for their needs. Maximizers? We have a need to always make the best choice (guilty!). The potential outcome of our indecision in the face of many choices? Anxiety, depression, and discontent. In fact, sociologists have coined another phrase for this phenomenon: fear of missing out.
We won’t find the words maximizer or satisficer in Scripture, of course. But we do find a similar idea. In 1 Timothy, Paul challenged Timothy to find value in God rather than the things of this world. The world’s promises of fulfillment can never fully deliver. Paul wanted Timothy to instead root his identity in God: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:6). Paul sounds like a satisficer when he adds, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (v. 8).
When I fixate on the myriad ways the world promises fulfillment, I usually end up restless and unsatisfied. But when I focus on God and relinquish my compulsive urge to maximize, my soul moves toward genuine contentment and rest.
Would you say you tend to be a content person? Why or why not? How do you think your relationship with God affects your overall contentment in life?
Father, help me to remember that only You can fill my soul.
敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。—提摩太前书6章6节
在选购订婚戒指时，我花了很多时间寻找最适合的钻石。当时我心中有个疑虑：若我错过最美的钻石怎么办？
经济心理学家贝瑞 · 史瓦兹将我这种举棋不定，迟迟无法做选择的人，称为“最大化者”（maximizer），与之相反的，则是“满足者”（satisficer）。满足者会依据物品是否符合自己的需求而做选择。但最大化者呢？我们永远都希望所选择的是最好、最棒的（很惭愧！）。在面对各种选择时，像我这样犹豫不决有哪些潜在的风险呢？可能会表现出焦虑、忧郁和不满。事实上，社会学家已将这种症状称为错失恐惧症。
当然，圣经没有“最大化者”和“满足者”这样的名词，但我们可以看到相近的概念。在提摩太前书中，保罗勉励提摩太不要追求世上的事物，而是要在上帝里面得着满足。世界承诺要带给我们的满足，从来都无法真正地实现。保罗希望提摩太能认定自己在上帝里面的身分，他说：“敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了”（6章6节）。保罗还对提摩太说：“只要有衣有食，就当知足”（8节）。看来保罗是一位满足者。
当我专注在世界宣称能使我满足的各种事物时，往往只会焦躁不安且不满足。然而，当我定睛上帝，放弃“最大化者”这个执念后，我的心就能得享真正的满足和平安。
你认为自己是个知足的人吗？为什么？
你与上帝的关系如何影响你过知足的生活？
天父，求祢帮助我在与祢的关系中，寻求身心灵的满足。
并谨记唯有祢能满足我的心灵，这是世界无法做到的。