Hedonism

Hedonist: Noun: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.

I have had the privilege of working my way through the first half of Pastor John Pipers opus work Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. In His book he explores what be at the very heart of every single Christian. In doing so he adopts what would and should be construed as a very non-biblical word by definition, and makes it the chief aim of every single Christ follower.

God is most glorified in me, When I am most satisfied in HIM.

At the heart of every person is a desire for God. This desire is labeled many things. Its filled with many things. But none of them seem to exhaust it, nor satisfy it. For a Christian our souls satisfaction is found in the LORD. Just a brief look at the Psalms paints a picture full of longing, desire, thirst and satisfaction in God. We rise in the morning, showered in the graces of life given by the Father. We live through the day seeing the face of Jesus in every person we serve and come into contact with. We come home in the evening to those we love being reminded of the family of God and the wonderful community of the Saints. We lay our heads down at night with the hope of doing it all over again, but that hope is far out weighed by a greater hope in the coming of our Lord and King Jesus.

A desperate longing for completion not only for ourselves but for the all of creation. For the day that Jesus will wipe every tear from every eye. For the day that Gods presence will be with his people in fullness. And from this will come complete satisfaction in worship of our God in his presence for all of eternity.

This is the desire of every true Christian hedonist. To find satisfaction in the Glory of God. To find identity as a worshiping son or daughter. Finding Joy and satisfaction in Him who made you.

Where do you find your Joy? Your satisfaction?