HAPPINESS or holiness?
Only one path leads to ultimate satisfaction
It can be as simple as finishing a task you’ve By Bethany Riehl lost interest in or as difficult as staying commitWhat is the point of it all anyway? ted in a lonely marriage. It’s doing all for the It’s the question we face at my church every glory of God regardless of the reward or lack Sunday, more or less, as our pastor walks us thereof on earth. And, friends, it.is.tough. through the book of Ecclesiastes. Our goal is in every way to be more like “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. Christ. “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecc. 1:2) Christ, who when faced with the goal that Thankfully, we started this book by looking He’d come to earth to accomplish – the salvaahead to the end. Spoiler alert, it’s not life that’s tion of all who would put their faith in Him vanity; it’s the life lived for our own pleasure – asked the Father to let the cup pass from Him or gain that has no purpose. But a life lived if possible. While I am certain that Jesus was in pursuit of holiness? That’s lasting, eternal, dreading the crucifixion, I believe it was the abundant. wrath of God He was going to endure that had And that’s easy to talk about here, with you. Him literally sweating blood. Me, behind this computer and you, sitting there “…My father, if it is possible, let this cup with a moment to yourself for whatever reason. Bethany Riehl pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You But when I close this computer and you set will.” (Matthew 26:39b) down this magazine and we walk through our daily lives, what Where would we be if, “yet not as I will, but as You will,” had does this look like in practice? not been Jesus’ ultimate aim? Recently, I realized that I have…how you say…a touch of I’ll tell you. Doomed. Hopeless. Helpless. road crankiness. I refuse to say road rage because I don’t curse But praise be to God, Jesus chose holiness over happiness. or yell or gesture. I just…grumble. Or make sarcastic suggesObedience over His own desire in that moment. He walked tions to other drivers. You know how it goes: “Oh, sure, come forward on the path He’d laid out and rescued us – His eyes on on over. I don’t need my front fender. Oh, and by all means, go pleasing the Father, no matter the cost. If we claim to be His, slower…” we can do no less. You get the idea. “Then Jesus said, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he Anyway. It could be seen as harmless, this habit of mine. must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me’.” After all, they can’t hear me. But my passengers sure do. They (Matthew 16:24) hear my heart and it’s not pretty. If we live life with the goal of happiness, we’ll always find In an effort to change the behavior, I gave my kids a code ourselves on a path that ends in dissatisfaction and emptiness. phrase to use to get my attention if they hear me being snotty No matter how many new paths we carve out, if this is our to other drivers. When they say, “Citizen’s Arrest!” (we’ll be aim, they all end up in the same way: a dead end. No house, besties forever if you know why we chose that phrase), it’s my no job, no relationship, no degree, no toy, no political figure, reminder to repent of my bad attitude. no (insert greatest desire here) will satisfy. Only a life lived for I’m not going to lie – it grates on the ol’ nerves most of the God and striving after holiness can. time to hear that phrase from a child, and I often have to fight Take it from the wisest man in all history, who followed every a new set of temptations in my heart when I do. But my holiness, by God’s power and for His glory, is what I’m after, so we path his heart desired and this is where it led: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God continue on with it. and keep His commandments, because this applies to every This is a small and insignificant example compared to many person. For God will bring every act to judgement, everyother hard and heavy ways that the Lord shapes us to be holy thing which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiasmore than happy. What about laying down our life – our tes 12:13,14) n wants, opinions, tastes, etc. – for someone else? When we really live out the verse, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one Bethany Riehl lives in the Treasure Valley with her husband, three kids, and one super chill dog. She writes articles another as more important than yourselves…” (Philippians and fictional novels when she can, and her one desire is to 2:3) it grates. point others to the love and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Her It can be treating a stranger with respect, even when they’re rude, or it can be actively loving and serving someone that you books can be found on Amazon or at your local library… know might not appreciate it – or worse, look on your sacrifice after you request them to be in stock, of course. with contempt.
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22 May / June 2022 | Christian Living
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