I have a friend suffering from discontent.

He doesn't feel good about his life. He wants more than he has. No success in his ministry is ever enough.

Like many afflicted by this malady, my friend admits he has no objective reason to feel as he does: "I have a fine family, three grown sons, a healthy wife. I'm not rich, but I've planned well for retirement."

He is successful, having achieved the top rank in his ministry/profession. Nobody does it better. And he is one of those rare individuals who has been able to advance without creating enemies. In fact, he has more genuine friends than anyone I know.

So why the discontent?

That's what he asked me over lunch several weeks ago. I didn't have very good answers.

I stumbled and mumbled, talking about normal highs and lows of the spiritual life, reminding him that King David and Job were all-time sufferers who eventually worked through their problems. I reminded him of Paul's comments about contentment.

But we both led the lunch dissatisfied; his ...