In last week’s Christian Carnival, I found the link to Parableman, Jeremy Pierce’s piece on his evaluation of John Piper’s Christian Hedonism. It is an interesting read, and one that I am still working through myself.

As I think through Piper’s ideas on Christian Hedonism, I am reminded by a verse that I remember getting quite excited over as a young Christian. I remember at the time that I really desired several things, especially for my own life. I came across a verse in Psalm 37:4 which I believed with all my heart was my assurance that if I only delighted myself in the Lord, I will then certainly have everything I desired, for the verse plainly reads:

Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I shared with one of my mentors about this verse and declared that I was claiming this verse as a promise from God. So, I told my mentor, I will delight in the Lord and seek after Him so that I will get the desires of my heart.

I remember my mentor not feeling overly excited about this. He cautioned that the “heart” needed to be qualified. I remember feeling a little disappointed that my mentor was not excited for me. For afer all, here was a young fella who was committed to “delighting in the Lord.” So, how wrong could that be? Wouldn’t that be a worthwhile goal? Even if it was selfishly motivated?

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This morning I had breakfast with a friend, Robert, from church. It was supposed to be a business meeting of sorts. I had gotten to know Robert a little better from about the time I started looking for a new job when I was laid off recently. He had been quite encouraging and tried to hook me up with his associates who he thought might be interested in me. Although his referrals did not work out at the time, we got to know each other. When he found out a little more about my background, experience and professional expertise, he thought I might be interested to explore some opportunities with a new product he was developing. What was supposed to be a business meeting became a time of spiritual renewal for both of us.

After the meeting, I wrote him an email which said in part:

I am in awe at how God brings together broken people to create a beautiful mosaic of lives in the process of being transformed and healed. When I first met you at the men’s gathering so many months ago, I thought you didn’t like me and in a distorted sense of self-defense, I entertained judgmental thoughts about you. When I was again introduced to you via Ken, again negative thoughts crossed my mind – albeit briefly – (that you probably thought I was a loser or someone who did not have “it� whatever that is!). Each time, I intentionally let God’s Spirit minister in me and his koinoina love to overwhelm me and bind brotherly hearts together. So, I came to the meeting this morning with a half-expectant heart and although not thinking it to be anymore than a “business-like� meeting, I was overwhelmed by the love of Christ in you.

I experienced the peace of God through our interaction so much that my spirit has been lifted up! Thank you for sharing your heart, your insights and your wisdom. I appreciate your prayers. You have encouraged me and I can see God at work in your life and also see him working in mine through you. We ought to do this again!

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