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30th March 2005

Bringing God Pleasure

posted in christian |
Some reflections from The Purpose Driven Life, Day 9.

Here’s a novel idea in our fast paced, too busy and too hurried lives.

God enjoys watching us sleep. Rick Warren points this out on page 75 of The Purpose Driven Life. And this is true, as all parents can relate. When we watch our own children sleeping in their beds, peacefully resting and recharging their bodies and minds for another day of activity– what a sense of peace, contentment, and “centeredness” that can provide.

God, as our heavenly father, has emotions just as we do. The Bible is full of references, in the Old and New Testaments, of how God is at times pleased, grieved, compassionate, angry, etc. (See 1 John 4:7-9, Genesis 6:5-8, and Psalm 103:11-16 for some examples.) We are in relationship with Him and the relationship works both ways, as far as our actions and daily decisions actually having an impact on our heavenly father. Isn’t that an amazing idea?

We are deluded often, in twenty-first century US culture, into thinking that we should be busy all the time. Nothing could be farther than the truth. I heard a faculty member recently comment that she was angry, but not at a person, she was angry at time. There was not enough time in the day to do everything she wanted to do.

I didn’t say this at the time, but I wanted to (and this also comes from another lesson in Warren’s book): There is always time in the day to do those things which are most important in the eyes of God. There is always time to do God’s work. Jesus didn’t perform miracles 24/7 and go without sleeping. He rested when he needed to. He took time to retreat alone and with his disciples, often into nature where he could be away from the “busyness” of his culture and connect with his Father in heaven. And we are called to follow the example of Christ.

This didn’t mean that Jesus was a slacker or lazy, there were times of his life where he worked and struggled intensely. His temptation in the desert, his crucifixion– these and other times stand out clearly in this way. But generally, Jesus lived a balanced life (which often I think we don’t in our present culture) that was marked by large amounts of time dedicated to the relationships in his life that mattered most (with his Father and with people) and by rest. Without rest, he would not have been able to carry out the mission on earth for which God had created Him.

So should we be angry that there is not enough time in the day? Should be be frustrated that there are too many things to do, and too little time?

Probably not. If we have too much on our plate (which I do frequently), instead of wasting heartbeats raising our blood pressure– we should find ways to do the things that matter, and put off, delegate, or turn down the opportunity to do those things which don’t. Is this overly idealistic. I think not. I think it is Biblical.

I also think I need a snow day! I am blogging on this to preach to myself. So good night!

On this day..

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 at 10:52 pm and is filed under christian. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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