RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-11-04	Is It Selfish To Pray For Joy?
		Let's start by defining selfishness. It is different from the pursuit of joy the Bible commends. 1. Selfishness, which is a bad thing, is wanting the exaltation of self without loving the exaltation of God. 2. Selfishness is wanting for yourself at the expense of others. If our craving or prayer for joy turns into one of the above, we should feel bad, and need to repent. Biblical satisfaction in God is designed to not involve selfishness as defined above. Biblical joy always stresses that our joy is in God. We do not merely pursue joy for joy's own sake. Rather we pursue joy in God. Php 1:19  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Php 1:20  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. Php 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Php 1:22  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. Php 1:23  For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Here Paul shows us that God is magnified by our being satisfied in Him. So this joy is always putting the exaltation of God over the exaltation of self. The satisfaction of self in God magnifies God. So we never exalt ourselves above God by being satisfied by God. The Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Ac.20:35). So our joy in God increases when it expands to meet the needs of others. Our joy increases when others come to share it. It is not the kind of thing that when others get some you get less. It is just the opposite. If my joy can expand to include others in it so that your's increases, my personal joy enlarges. Biblical joy has a built in protection against exclusivism. All this glorifies God. Biblical joy has an expansive impulse, because it knows when others share it, it enlarges. Biblical joy wants so much to bring joy to others. It is the opposite of selfishness. Our happiness in God is the power to lay down our lives for others (He.12:2). Heb 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus' deep sense of satisfaction in His Father, so after the resurrection it gave the power that enabled Him to die for us. This is how we ought to be motivated toward others. Heb 10:34  for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. These believers had compassion for Paul when he was in prison. They did this joyfully knowing they had a better possession awaiting them in heaven. So we have confidence in God who takes care of us. How could we be motivated by mere selfishness? How empty that is. Finding my fullest satisfaction in God frees me from the need to protect myself. It propels me to a life of self sacrifice. How do we not feel selfish by repeatingly asking for joy in God? Psa 90:14  Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! This Psalmist prays everyday to be satisfied in God, and we can too! The reason these constantly repeating prayers for joy do not turn into selfishness is because of the following reasons: (1) They glorify God; (2) They humble us as needy of His satisfying presence; (3) They incline us to increase our joy by expanding it into the lives of others; (4) Those prayers for joy free us from the need to self-protect. Pastor Tom ELseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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