"The main problem our heart has is not so much desires for bad things, but our over-desires for good things." -Timothy Keller
Have you ever heard someone say something or read a quote and thought... "I've never thought about it like that. It's so true." or "You're so right!" I saw this quote by Timothy Keller the other day and that is exactly what happened. However, as the day went on I kept thinking about what Keller said and wondering what exactly he meant...
As a child of God, I know that every good and perfect gift comes from above (Jam 1:17), so how can my heart's main problem be with an over-desire of good things? As soon as I had this question I thought about how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Satan temped Jesus with good things, not bad things.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your Godand him only shall you serve.’”Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4:1-11
Satan first temped Jesus in a way that would end his suffering and allow him to eat after 40 days and nights of fasting. If you hadn't eaten in 40 days I think being offered food is a good thing. Satan's second attempt to tempt Jesus would appeal to the desire in Jesus's heart (as he was 100% man and 100% God) to see God act immediately on our behalf. Pass the test we put before him. I confess that I often put God to the test. I pray for something and desire to see it answered immediately. Partly because I want it answered and partly because I desire confirmation that God is listening and cares. Jesus reminds us that we are to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Lastly, Satan tempts Jesus with comfort, riches, and glory. What human on this earth doesn't desire material things?
Yes, there is suffering and pain. Yes, that can turn us away from God. But how often is it that we don't seek God because things are going good. Yet the minute something bad happens we are running to him; praying for him to fix it. Often I only seek God when I am going through something difficult. I feel closest to God when I am suffering and broken because I know that he is the only one who can heal and satisfy me heart. Why wouldn't Satan see this and take advantage?
The problem is not that I desire good things because God gives good gifts to his kids. The problem is that I desire these things more than I desire God. I desire material things of this world, approval of peers, and countless other meaningless things over the love and relationship I have with my heavenly father. He who is perfect, kind, constant, and King. He who turns pain into beauty and darkness into light. He knows the depths of my heart and loves me still.
