Today I noticed a person walking out of the grocery store. They were obviously happy and excited about something. This started the thought for me that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Why do things here on earth make us happy? I think that there are two reasons.
1. The thing is bringing glory for ourselves, so we feel good and happy that it is happening.
2. The thing brings glory for God and thus God’s abundant joy is overflowing in our lives and is making us happy.
Recently I just listened through several sermons on the book of Ecclesiastes, preached by Matt Chandler, lead pastor of the Village Church. The book contains the words of Solomon, King of Israel. In a short summary, Solomon is trying to find something that will bring him joy and happiness here on earth. He pulls off enormous parties, has houses built, has plentiful wealth, has many women, plants forests, and several other things. These are all somewhat part of a large experiment to find something to bring him true joy and satisfaction.
Verses 2-3 of chapter 1 say, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?”
Fast forward to the end of the book, Solomon concludes in verses 13-14 of chapter 12; “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Solomon, one of the most wealthy people in the world, tried all of these things in order to find that one thing to bring him joy and satisfaction. However through all of his tries, he came up short.
I think today in a culture where the goal is to make yourself the greatest, the wealthiest, the most successful, is simply pulling many away from the fact that by living this way we are so far from what we find true joy and satisfaction in. We try to glorify ourselves by doing things for us. Simply put, these things won’t bring true joy and satisfaction. They only last for a short time.
Only true joy and satisfaction comes from God.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying wealth and being successful are sinful things and thus should be avoided. No! But when you love those things and don’t love God and aren’t bringing glory to Him, they are then pointless. For in the grand scheme of things, when you die, what happens to all of your greatness, your success, your possessions? They don’t benefit you at all. It is only Jesus who benefits you.
So today, I urge you when you are thinking about how you will benefit from that thing, at the same time think, how will God’s kingdom benefit from that thing. Does God’s kingdom receive glory from that thing? How can I love my neighbor as myself? How can I look to the “least of these” and help them? (Matthew 25:40)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
