Thursday, June 12, 2014

God Makes Our Happiness His Own Charge

Have you ever failed to do something good for another person because you were concerned what would happen to you as a result? How will I take care of myself if I'm always concerned about the needs of others? If I give, will I have anything left? Fear often drives our inaction because we're afraid of the outcome. In turn, we focus on ourselves, becoming selfish, rather than living in loving service of others. Jonathan Edwards gives an amazing response concerning the kind of life we should strive to live and why: 
If you are selfish, and make yourself and your own private interests your idol, God will leave you to yourself, and let you promote your own interests as well as you can. But if you do not selfishly seek your own, but do seek the things that are Jesus Christ's, and the things of your fellow human beings, then God will make your interest and happiness his own charge, and he is infinitely more able to provide for and promote it than you are. The resources of the universe move at his bidding, and he can easily command them all to subserve your welfare. So that, not to seek your own, in the selfish sense, is the best way of seeking your own in a better sense. It is the directest course you can take to secure your highest happiness.
Doing good is to be the work of the Christian, and as he serves others with love for them and faith in his God, he can be assured that the Lord of the universe will care for him and give the greater happiness. Therefore, go and do good without fear.
 

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