Everyone Wants to Be Happy

Does God want me to be happy or holy? It’s a common question, and Josh, a listener, writes in to ask: “Pastor John, my pastor, who knows and loves the gospel, chose this as the main point of a recent sermon: ‘God desires our obedience more than our happiness.’ Now, to me, this feels very much like law and not gospel. He did explain this as trusting him and obeying him even in hardships, but doesn’t the gospel do more? Doesn’t it give us happiness IN obeying him?” I remember 40 years ago when I was teaching at Bethel College that I had two colleagues, Art Lewis and Al Glen. I don’t think they would mind my saying this. They had a friendly controversy going on. They would pass each other in the hall. I watched this happen several times and laugh. They would pass each other in the hall and one — I won’t even say which one said which — one said to the other, “Love Jesus.” And the other would say back, “Obey Jesus.” And they really did have a little controversy about where the note should be struck.

God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him — Desiring God exists to help people everywhere understand and embrace this truth.