Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.(Acts 6:8)

We don’t want to just see the grace of God in all its beauty, saving sinners and sanctifying saints. We want to share the power of that grace. We want to feel it saving. We want to feel it conquer temptation in our lives. We want to feel it using us to save others. But why? Because our joy in God is insatiably greedy. The more we have, the more we want. The more we see, the more we want to see. The more we feel, the more we want to feel.

This means that the holy greed for joy in God that wants to see and feel more and mor manifestations of His glory will push a person into love. My desire to feel the power of God’s grace conquering the pride and selfishness in my life inclines me to behavior that demonstrates the victory of grace, namely, love. Genuine love is so contrary to human nature that it’s presence bears witness to an extraordinary power. The Christian Hedonist pursues love because he is addicted to the experience of that power. He wants to feel more and more of the grace of God reigning in his life.

Virtually all people outside Christ are possessed by the desire to find happiness by overcoming some limitation in their lives and having the sensation of power. The all-important difference between the non-Christian and the Christian Hedonist in this pursuit of joy is that the Christian Hedonist has discovered that self-confidence will never satisfy the longing of his heart to overcome finitude. He has learned that what we are really made for is not the thrill of feeling our own power increase, but the thrill of feeling God’s power increase, conquering the precipices of un-love in our sinful hearts.

The joy of experiencing the power of God’s grace defeating selfishness is an insatiable addiction.

John Piper

“Solomon, who according to the Bible, was one of the wealthiest and wisest man who has lived. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he tells us that he engaged in every pursuit imaginable. He says that nothing was withheld from him.

I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed. I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted. I spoke with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom and experience, more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.” And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow. I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness). I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and orchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made pools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. I bought male and female slaves and had slaves born in my house. I also possessed herds and flocks larger than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men— many concubines. So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. Whatever my eyes looked at with desire I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun. So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done. There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:12,24-26

Solomon concludes that every pursuit outside the pursuit of God is vanity. He tells us that every other thing we pursue will eventually become tiresome. Here is the conclusion of a person who had everything that we might think would complete our lives. Solomon had great wealth and we know that there are those who may feel that if they had more wealth or more accumulation of the things of this world, they would be happier and more content. Yet, Solomon, who lived in a palace and had everything he wished for tells us that it is all vanity. Perhaps we may feel if we had more knowledge or we could in some way accomplish something that excelled far above others around us that we would feel better about ourselves. Solomon says that he pursued knowledge and accomplishment only to discover that there was nothing lasting and nothing new for everything has an end and nothing is done that hasn’t already been done. What Solomon is saying to us is this: “Nothing in this world can satisfy.”

What then gives satisfaction and contentment and joy to a person in this life? More to the point, what brings pleasure to the Christian? We can understand the reason of discontent and strife among the non-Christian, but what contributes to the dissatisfaction of the Christian? That Christians are dissatisfied with life is evident and that they push to gain more status and power and position is equally evident.

What is it that drives us to want more personal power or gain? Can it be that like Solomon, we may initially think that more power, higher position, or greater influence will provide us a sense of completeness?

I’ve found that none of these things satisfy. No position, no personal power or influence or anything of this world, in the church or out will even come close to the joy one can have to see the grace of God being poured out upon a sinner’s heart and watching that sinner respond to the love of God. I think that the answer to church conflict is to discover the joy of doing the work of Christ. Once we feel the incredible joy of participating in the work of God, it really doesn’t matter whether we hold a position in the church or not for our work and position is defined by God and not by humans. If God is using you to display His love and grace to others around you it really doesn’t matter what others are doing or not doing. You become so focused on what God is doing in you and through you that you no longer care to contend for power and influence on the human playing field. You seek only to have influence in heaven- that your prayers are heard and answered and you are given the wisdom and power by God to carry out His work; and your presence is felt in hell as you are perceived as a threat to the kingdom of darkness- the throne of Satan. It really doesn’t matter if you have the ability to influence the color of the carpet in the sanctuary or what programs the church decides to do or how the rituals are done. Neither heaven nor hell is impressed with these things and at the end of the day, even if all works according to your wishes, you will still feel unsatisfied and incomplete.

The incredible thing that happens- we might call it the unexpected benefit- is that when you become engaged fully and solely in the work of God, the power of His love and grace overwhelms your soul and the more you feel that love and grace, the more you desire to be engaged in the work of God. Once you tap into this incredible offering of God, you become addicted and like and addict, you crave more and more. Not of personal recognition or accolades but you crave the approval of God Himself. Every time you allow Him to use you for His purpose, your heart sings as you see your love, Christ Jesus, being honored and given glory.

There is a contemporary song that Sherry and I sing. It describes this concept that I am feebly attempting to share. Here’s the words:

Who is like You Lord in all the earth?

Matchless love and beauty, endless worth

Nothing in this world can satisfy

‘Cause Jesus You’re the cup that won’t run dry

Your presence is heaven to me Your presence is heaven to me

Treasure of my heart and of my soul

In my weakness you are merciful

Redeemer of my past and present wrongs

Holder of my future days to come

Your presence is heaven to me Your presence is heaven to me

All my days on earth I will await

The moment that I see You face to face

Nothing in this world can satisfy

‘Cause Jesus You’re the cup that won’t run dry

Your presence is heaven to me Your presence is heaven to me

Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me

Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me!

May today you find your satisfaction and completeness in Christ Jesus. He is more than enough.

Dr. John Thompson