A Journey to Christian Hedonism: Finding Joy in God

I Was Far Too Easily Pleased: A Journey to Christian Hedonism

Today marks a significant milestone in my journey of faith. It was fifty years ago, on November 16, 1968, that I experienced a profound realization that changed the course of my life. In this article, I want to share with you that experience and how it led me to embrace Christian Hedonism as my guiding principle.

The Search for Joy

From a young age, I had a deep longing for joy and satisfaction. I tried to find it in various ways - academic success, sports, relationships, and material possessions. But no matter how much I achieved or acquired, the joy was fleeting and unsatisfactory. I was like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking eternal life but left disappointed when he was told to sell all his possessions and follow Jesus.

I was searching for joy in all the wrong places, and I knew it. I found myself asking the question, "Is this all there is to life?" I believed in God, but I saw him as a distant, disinterested deity who had little to do with my daily life. I was far too easily pleased with the things of this world.

The Turning Point

It was in the fall of 1968 that I attended a sermon by a visiting speaker named Lewis Smedes. He spoke on the topic of Christian Hedonism, a concept that was new to me at the time. Smedes defined Christian Hedonism as the belief that the pursuit of joy and satisfaction in God is not only permissible but also essential to the Christian life. He quoted Psalm 37:4, which says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

As I listened to Smedes' message, something inside me clicked. It was as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes, and I saw the truth for the first time. I realized that my quest for joy and satisfaction was not a bad thing, but a God-given desire. God had created me to find my ultimate joy in him, and everything else in life was meant to be a means to that end.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." I had been settling for a mediocre, mediocre life when Jesus had promised me an abundant life. I had been looking for joy in the wrong places, but now I saw that joy was found in God alone. As the psalmist says in Psalm 16:11, "In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Embracing Christian Hedonism

After that sermon, I began to study the Bible with new eyes. I saw that the pursuit of joy in God was not only permissible but also commanded. The psalmist says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord." And in Philippians 4:4, Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."

Christian Hedonism became my guiding principle, and I began to see everything in life through that lens. I saw that the purpose of my work, my relationships, my hobbies, and everything else was to bring glory to God and to find joy in him. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism says, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever."

Christian Hedonism does not mean that we seek joy at any cost or that we are to be selfish in our pursuit of joy. Rather, it means that we seek our joy in God, who is the highest good and the source of all true joy. And as we find joy in God, we are transformed into his likeness and are able to love and serve others with selflessness and joy.

Why Christian Hedonism Matters

Some may ask, "Why does Christian Hedonism matter? Isn't it just another way of saying that we should be happy?" But Christian Hedonism is much more than that. It is a radical reorientation of our entire lives toward God and his glory. It is a recognition that joy and satisfaction are not found in the things of this world but in God alone. And it is a call to live a life of joy and obedience that brings glory to God and blesses others.

Christian Hedonism matters because it is based on the truth of God's Word. The Bible repeatedly commands us to find our joy in God and to delight in him. As the psalmist says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." And in Psalm 16:11, "In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Christian Hedonism also matters because it is essential to our spiritual growth and maturity. When we find our joy in God, we are transformed into his likeness and become more like Christ. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Christian Hedonism matters because it is the key to living a life of purpose and meaning. When we seek our joy in God, we are able to live for something greater than ourselves. We are able to find our true calling and fulfill our God-given purpose. As Paul says in Philippians 3:8-10, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

Conclusion

Fifty years ago today, I experienced a profound realization that changed the course of my life. I saw that the pursuit of joy and satisfaction in God is not only permissible but also essential to the Christian life. I embraced Christian Hedonism as my guiding principle, and it has been my goal and guide and strength ever since.

I urge you to consider the truth of Christian Hedonism for yourself. Are you seeking joy and satisfaction in the things of this world, or are you seeking your joy in God alone? As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

May we all find our joy in God and bring glory to him in all that we do.