Empty Wells, Living Water
Looking in all the wrong places
John 4:13-14 - Jesus and the woman at the well. The passage emphasizes the contrast between temporary, worldly water that leaves one thirsty again and the "living water" Jesus offers, which becomes "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." This sets the foundation for the sermon’s central theme: only Jesus can truly satisfy the soul’s deepest longings.
Psalm 63:1-3 - A heartfelt cry from David expressing his soul’s thirst for God in a "dry and thirsty land." The passage highlights the human longing for God’s presence, power, and loving-kindness, which surpasses all earthly pleasures. This scripture complements the sermon’s message by illustrating the spiritual yearning that drives humanity to seek fulfillment, often in the wrong places.
Our message, "Empty Wells, Living Water," is about the thirst deep in our souls—for purpose, peace, fulfillment—and the only One who can truly satisfy it. We’re going to explore why the wells of this world fail us and how Jesus offers living water that never runs dry. So, let’s dive in.
We all know what it’s like to thirst for something more. Deep down, there’s a longing, a void we try to fill. We chase better jobs, more money, new relationships, or fleeting pleasures, thinking they’ll bring lasting satisfaction. But how often do we find these things leave us empty, like a weary traveler approaching a well only to find it dry? In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, a woman whose life was marked by broken relationships and shame, much like ours when we seek meaning apart from God. Her story speaks to us all. We come to the world’s wells with our buckets, hoping to meet a need, but they run dry. Jesus tells her in John 4:13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” He sees beyond our surface needs to the deeper thirst in our souls, a thirst only He can satisfy.
Let’s talk about these worldly wells we turn to. First, there’s the well of wealth. It whispers that more money will bring security. But Proverbs 23:5 says, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Isn’t that true, especially today? You save up, and then a medical bill, car repair, or grocery run wipes it out. Money vanishes in an instant. We can’t look to it for security. Then there’s the well of success. We think climbing the corporate or social ladder will give us purpose, but even at the top, we often feel unfulfilled. The well of pleasure tempts us with momentary thrills—parties, indulgences, you name it—but they leave us emptier than before. And the well of relationships suggests the right person will complete us. Human love is beautiful, but it can’t fill a God-sized void. Proverbs 27:20 warns, “Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.” Our desires, when rooted in the world, are insatiable.
The Samaritan woman’s life, marked by brokenness, mirrors our own restlessness when we seek life apart from God. Think about King Solomon, the wisest, richest, most powerful man to ever live. He had the equivalent of eight master’s degrees, a thousand women, endless wealth, and power as a king. Yet in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, he writes, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired… yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” If Solomon, with all he had, found it empty, what hope do we have chasing the same things? I’m a car guy, and I know the thrill of a new car. It’s great for a month or two, but then the shine fades, and you’re already eyeing something else. That’s why millionaires and billionaires have a hundred cars, five houses, and still want more. The world’s wells can never satisfy.
Jeremiah 2:13 puts it starkly: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” That’s what we do when we chase worldly things—we forsake the true source of life for broken cisterns that leak. What wells are you drinking from today? A promotion? Social media validation? A relationship? These are fleeting, unable to hold the water your soul needs.
But here’s the good news: Jesus offers something radically different—living water that quenches the soul’s deepest thirst. In John 4:10, He tells the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” This living water is His grace, His love, His presence, freely given to all who come to Him. Unlike worldly wells that demand we keep returning, Jesus’ gift is complete and eternal. He doesn’t just remove our desires; He fulfills them in Himself. He is the bread of life (John 6:35), the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Psalm 16:11 declares, “You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” In Jesus, our deepest longings find their true home. His living water isn’t a one-time drink but a spring that wells up within us, sustaining us through life’s trials and leading to eternal life.
So, how do we drink from this living water? First, recognize the emptiness of the wells you’ve been drawing from. What are you chasing—approval, comfort, control? The Samaritan woman left her jar behind, abandoning her old ways to embrace Jesus’ offer. We must do the same, confessing that worldly pursuits can’t satisfy. Second, come to Jesus. He invites us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is a daily act—turn to Him through prayer, scripture, and worship. Drink deeply from His Word and let His Spirit fill you. Third, trust that Jesus is enough. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” In Him, every need is met, every thirst quenched. Finally, share the living water. The Samaritan woman ran to her village, proclaiming Jesus, and many believed (John 4:39). When we taste His goodness, we can’t help but invite others to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). It’s not enough that we’re saved; we have the greatest thing on earth, and we need to spread the gospel.
The wealth, success, and pleasures of this world will always leave you thirsty. Their broken cisterns can’t hold water. But with Jesus, the living water never runs dry. John 7:38 promises, “Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow through them.” That’s the invitation today—come to Jesus. Drink deeply from His love and grace. Let Him fill you with a spring that wells up to eternal life. If you haven’t trusted Christ, why wait? Acts 22:16 urges, “Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” For those walking with Jesus, recommit to drinking from His well daily. Let go of the world’s empty promises and find your satisfaction in Him. If you need prayer or want to take a step of faith, come forward now. Let’s pray together as we seek the living water that only Jesus provides. Let’s turn from empty wells and embrace the life, purpose, and joy that Christ alone offers.
Empty Wells, Living Water
Looking in all the wrong places
Today, we’re diving into a powerful truth from God’s Word, found in John 4:13-14 and Psalm 63:1-3. There is a thirst in our souls and there is only One who can truly satisfy it. We all long for purpose, peace, and fulfillment, don’t we? Yet so often, we chase these things in the world—better jobs, more money, new relationships, or fleeting pleasures—only to find they leave us empty, like dry wells in a desert. In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, a woman whose life was marked by brokenness, much like ours when we seek meaning apart from God. He tells her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” His living water is the answer to our deepest longings.
Think about the wells we turn to. Wealth promises security, but Proverbs 23:5 says riches “sprout wings and fly off like an eagle.” Success feels purposeful, but even at the top, we’re unfulfilled. Pleasure tempts us, but it leaves us emptier than before. Relationships, while beautiful, can’t fill a God-sized void, as Proverbs 27:20 warns our desires are insatiable when rooted in the world. King Solomon, the wisest and richest man, had it all—riches, power, pleasure—yet in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, he calls it “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Jeremiah 2:13 puts it starkly: God’s people forsake Him, the spring of living water, for broken cisterns that hold no water. That’s what we do when we chase worldly things.
But Jesus offers something different—living water, His grace, love, and presence, freely given to all who come to Him (John 4:10). He’s the bread of life (John 6:35), the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), bringing joy that lasts (Psalm 16:11). So, what do we do? Recognize the emptiness of worldly wells. Come to Jesus daily, as He invites in Matthew 11:28. Trust He’s enough (Psalm 23:1). And share His love, like the Samaritan woman did in John 4:39. If you haven’t trusted Christ, Acts 22:16 calls you to be baptized and call on His name. Believers, recommit to drinking from His well daily. "Empty Wells, Living Water" reminds us that only Jesus satisfies our deepest desires, offering true purpose and peace through His eternal grace.