I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing."

Psalm 16:2 (NIV)

David's statement seems at first like exaggeration. Apart from you I have no good thing? Not one thing?

What about marriage? Children? Friends? Health? Good restaurants? Great books? Beautiful music? The smile of a child? The Olympics?

Isn't the world full of good things?

Yes. But all are from God. Every good thing in the universe comes from God.

Hear James: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17/NIV).

Hear Paul: "What do you have that you have not received?" (1 Corinthians 4:7/NIV).

Yes. Every good thing we've ever experienced comes from God.

But there's more. Not only is God the source of all good, but when we desire these good things we are desiring God. That is, when we desire a good marriage, or children, or a new job, or more income, or a beautiful house, or a vacation in Cancun, or a new car, we are desiring God. We don't know it perhaps, but we are. We are longing for God. We are longing to fill the empty places in our soul that only God can fill. We are longing for joy that only God can bring.

We are thirsting for God.

Yes, David. Yes.

You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.