Contentment and Joy

"You deserve better." It is not shouted at me from rooftops. It is whispered in my ear as I drift off to sleep, those susceptible moments when our brains are only half-conscioius and already on the way to dreamland. Not shouted, but reiterated through media, commercials, books, and other Hollywood offerings. Not shouted, but a nagging sound of sin dripping from my own heart.

What exactly is it I think I deserve? More money? A husband and children? A glorious ministry?

Uh-oh. That sounds vain! Vanity says it is all about me. But life's not all about me, is it?

The goal of every person is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (emphasis mine)

But what if my life is not that enjoyable? Philip Holmes talks about that in a recent article published on Desiring God, titled "Hope for the Unhappy Christian." As I read the opening paragraphs of his article, I thought, "He must have my story somewhere and just changed my name to protect the not-so-innocent." If you want to know what I struggle with, it's all right there! Holmes says, "The human heart is impossible to satisfy with temporal conditions or earthly goods. We always want more."

The Good News is that we have access to more! We have access to it all, through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:11-12: "In Him also we [o]have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory." We have an inheritance, as we are co-heirs with Christ, and so we have access to the Father, the best gift of all time! We also have power to overcome sin, a purpose, a living hope, and a place at God's table.

What is this life compared to that? Money -- can't take it with me, as they say. Husband and children -- people sometimes betray you, and sometimes they die. A ministry -- if it is not for God's glory, it will be burned in the fire.

But telling me to be content doesn't exactly help me be content.

The answer is to pursue joy, the same way we'd pursue other things: money, career, family, success, ministry. Pursue joy: run after it. Plan to obtain it. Work toward it. In this fallen world, it won't come easily; it must be pursued.