I first heard some quote while I was driving my truck in Mexico about how God is far more interested in making me holy than in making me happy. At the time, I didn't realize that I would be running into this quote over and over. I have no idea who originally said or wrote it, but it has bothered me ever since that truck ride.
If John Piper is right, and I believe he is, we, as Christians, should make it our life's ambition to be happy in God. In fact, this passionate pursuit of Godly joy is the very thing that honors God the most and makes us more and more holy. If I find God to be my ultimate satisfaction and purest delight, I am going to gladly live a life of cheerful obedience for greater measures of joy. I can't get any happier than that! Doesn't the meaning of the word "blessed" in the Bible largely convey happiness? In fact, I have seen it translated specifically as "happy", although I know it also contains a sense of God's approval.
Of course, I realize that we may not all have the same definition of what it means to be "happy". If the quote is referring to a life of ease and security with few troubles (a.k.a. "the American dream"), then yes, God is more interested in making us holy than he is giving us that. A simple glance at the life of Jesus or Paul makes that clear. But what worries me is this idea that we can be truly holy people by following all of God's commands with no regard for our enjoyment of God himself. The problem with that is that it's impossible. Our happiness in commanded all over the Bible. He wants us to serve him in gladness, delight ourselves in him, and rejoice and then rejoice some more. He is our God! In his presence is the fulness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore!
Let's forget this false distinction between holiness and happiness. They are one in the same and the more of one leads to more of the other.
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2 comments:
well said my good man. I just finished reading a really good book on marriage called Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, and the premise of the book was that God designed marriage to make us holy rather than happy. However, from the content of the book it was very clear that by "happy" he meant something very different from what John Piper means by it. So you raise a good point to make that distinction.
How do you like the Dave cds? My favorites are the Fenway and Radio City Hall concerts. Sound quality, song selection, energy, are off the charts. Historic concerts. The Fenway one starts off with some slower songs, and then just nails you with that version of The Idea of You (the lyrics of which disturb me). By the time they get into Grey Street, they are rocking, and don't stop till the encore is done. And the Dave and Tim cd might be my favorite of all time - crush, save me, and two step are all awesome.
My better man, I will need to check out that book and see what I think. It may square very well with what I was trying to say, but I don't see how marriage is not designed to make us happy since it is a reflection (however poor we sinners may make it) of our relationship with God, our sovereign joy and ultimate satisfaction.
I am just getting started on the Dave CDs and so far I like what I have heard. I listened to The Idea of You several times and didn't notice anything disturbing in the lyrics (some of which I can't understand), but I looked at them online and they are definitely weird. Of course, what I hear on the CD is not the same as what is listed as the lyrics, so I don't yet know how disturbed I should be. The violin jam on Grace is Gone with the references to the Doobie Brothers' Black Water is incredible. DMB just keeps getting better. LYMI!
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