Who (or What) Is Your Obsession? (Part 1)
I. The Secret of Joy Unspeakable
For years I’ve used insight from Calvin-and-Hobbesian theology to illustrate points I’m trying to make in my teachings. This particular brand of Calvinism (as contrasted with John’s) is the quintessential representation of the world’s exciting-but-oh-so-bankrupt philosophy of life. Behold:
Little Calvin’s keen observation that “it must be depressing to go through life with no purpose” is belied by the object of his obsession. I have asked people—over and over—two questions. What is your obsession? And, what are you known for? Like Calvin, our obsession defines our purpose. Any activity can become an obsession. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on how much it glorifies God. What’s the difference between enjoying an activity in moderation and being obsessed by it? Well, for Calvin I think it’s about $19.
Contrast Calvin’s misguided pursuit of purpose with David’s assertion in Psalm 23 that the ultimate purpose for which the Shepherd will meet all the sheep’s needs is “for His name’s (i.e., God’s reputation’s) sake”. That’s our Shepherd’s rightful obsession. Given this, then:
All that God does for us is due to the love that he has for himself
None of his goodness to us is due to any good in us
God best glorifies himself by doing what he doesn’t have to do, like redeeming us or meeting our needs when we can’t do it ourselves and don’t even deserve it
As John Piper says, we best glorify God by being most satisfied in him, and
We are most satisfied in him when he is our obsession.
Have you taken inventory of your obsessions? Is God glorified in and by them? Is he proud of what you’re known for? [Notice I didn’t ask you if you’re proud. That’s an unreliable gauge of being God’s imager.] And it’s not just what you do. It’s also how you do it and for whom. God wired us in such a way that we find our joy and are most fulfilled when he is our obsession. Other things may bring us temporary pleasure, but nothing else brings us joy unspeakable.
Okay. That’s well and good, you say. But exactly how do we make God our obsession? I’ll try to answer that in Part 2.
