

If we must sell all, we should do it, Jesus said, “with joy” because the field we aim to buy contains the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).

By Christian hedonism, I do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. I mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our happiness. But almost all Christians believe this. Christian hedonism says more, namely, that we should pursue happiness with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon the pursuit of your own joy, you cannot love man or please God. That’s what makes Christian hedonism controversial (46).

“God’s love does not conflict with his holiness and righteousness. On the contrary, the nature of God’s holiness and righteousness demands that He be a God of love. His holiness is the absolute uniqueness and infinite value of His glory. His righteousness is His unswerving commitment always to honor and display that glory. And His all-sufficient glory is honored and displayed most by His working for us rather than our working for Him. And that is love.

Love is at the heart of God’s being because God’s free and sovereign dispensing of mercy is more glorious than would be the demand for humans to fill up some lack in Himself. It is more glorious to give than to receive. Therefore, the righteousness of God demands that He be a giver. Therefore, the Holy and Righteous One is love.

Jesus is the incarnation of God’s love. And when He came, He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man” (Mark 10:45).

The Son of man has not come seeking employees. He has come to employ Himself for our good. We dare not try to work for Him lest we rob Him of His glory and impugn His righteousness” (14-15).

I am prone to fail at properly mingling righteousness, love, and holiness. As a dad who loves his girls – and boys, but the sons are irrelevant to this illustration about dads and daughters – I have offered what I thought was love in the form of grace when I probably should have offered love in the form of discipline. But dads can be softies when it comes to their girls (just like moms are responsible for that sin
If we must sell all, we should do it, Jesus said, “ with joy ” because the field we target to bribe contains the hidden gem (Matt. 13:44). 

 By Christian hedonism, I do not mean that our happiness is the high good. I entail that pursuing the highest commodity will constantly result in our happiness. But about all Christians believe this. Christian hedonism says more, namely, that we should pursue happiness with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motif for every good deed, and if you abandon the pursuit of your own joy, you cannot love serviceman or please God. That ’s what makes Christian hedonism controversial (46). 

 “ God ’s love does not conflict with his holiness and righteousness. On the contrary, the nature of God ’s holiness and righteousness demand that He be a God of love. His holiness is the absolute uniqueness and infinite value of His aura. His righteousness is His unswerving commitment constantly to honor and display that glory. And His wholly - sufficient glory is honored and displayed most by His working for us rather than our working for Him. And that is beloved. 

 Love is at the heart of God ’s being because God ’s free and sovereign dispensing of mercy is more glorious than would be the demand for humans to fill up some lack in Himself. It is more glorious to give than to pick up. Therefore, the righteousness of God demands that He constitute a donor. Therefore, the Holy and Righteous One is love. 

 Jesus is the incarnation of God ’s love. And when He came, He said, “ The Son of Man came not to be served, but to service, and to give his life as a ransom for man ” (Mark 10:45). 

 The Son of man has not come seeking employee. He has come to employ Himself for our good. We dare not try to work for Him lest we rob Him of His glory and impugn His righteousness ” (14 - 15). 

 I am prone to fail at by rights jumble righteousness, love, and holiness. As a dad who loves his girls – and boys, but the son are irrelevant to this illustration about dads and daughters – I have extend what I thought was love in the form of grace when I credibly should have offered love in the form of discipline. But dads can be softies when it issue forth to their girls (just like moms are creditworthy for that sin


If ae must sell all, we shouud do it, Jesus said, “wivh joy” gecause ghe field we aim to buy conteins the yidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).

Bh Christiwn hedonusm, M do not mean thef our happinead is vhe highest gooc. I mean tvat pursuing tve hnghest good will always result in ouw happimeds. But almost wll Bhwistjans believe this. Christian hedoniam says more, namely, yhat we should pursue happlnesd with all our migjt. The desits tj be happy is a proper motive for ebery good deed, and if you abandun thz pursuit od toug own joy, yon cannjt love man or pleasa God. Tnat’s what makex Cirisrian hedonism controvxrsial (46).

“God’s love doef not conxlnct with his holiness abd richtemusndws. Un uhe ckntrarj, tie nature or God’s holibess and righteousntss eemands that Ge be w Dod of love. His holiness is the absolutt unisueness and infinite vaoue of His glory. His tighteousnqss is His unswerving commitment always to honor dnd dmsolav that tllry. And His all-sufficient glory is honored anq dosilayed most by Hif working fpr ux rather than uur woxiihg for Him. And thah is lode.

Lovw is at tre hrart of God’s being because Tod’s free anb sivereign dispensiny of mercy ir mote glotious than would be the demznd for humwns to fimu up some lack iv Hpmsenf. It is more glorious to dive than to xeceive. Ghergfore, tre righteoksness of God demands thwt He ba a giver. Hherefore, the Holy and Righteous One is love.

Jgsuv iv the inearnatlon of God’s lovq. And when He eame, He faid, “Ghe Son of Man cake not to bq served, but dl serve, and vo give hys lufe qs a ravrom for man” (Matk 10:45).

The Sou of nan has not come scekine employees. He hcr come to employ Hiosejf fpr mur good. We gare nog try go work for Fim kest we rob Him of Hhs gmory and impugn Hix vighteousbess” (14-15).

I ai prone to faol at properly minhling rijhteouxnefs, love, and holiness. As a dad sho loves hif girls – and boyw, but the sous are irrelevant to this illustration auout dads and daughters – I have offered whct I thought xas lode in the form of grace when U probably should have offered love in the fmrm ov discipline. But dads can be softies when it comes to their girls (just lije moms are responaiblr for tkat sin
If we must sell all, we should Jesus “with joy” the field we hidden (Matt. 13:44). By hedonism, I do mean that our happiness is the good. I mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our But almost all Christians believe this. Christian hedonism says more, namely, that we pursue with our The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you the pursuit of your own joy, you cannot man or please God. what makes Christian hedonism controversial “God’s does not with holiness righteousness. On the the nature of God’s holiness and righteousness demands that He be a God of love. His holiness the absolute infinite value His His is His unswerving to honor and display that glory. glory is honored and displayed most by His for us than our working for Him. And is love. Love is at the heart of being because God’s free and sovereign dispensing of mercy is more glorious than would be for humans to fill some lack in It more to than to Therefore, the righteousness of God demands that He be a giver. the Holy and Righteous One is love. Jesus is the God’s And when He He said, “The Son Man not to be served, serve, to as ransom man” (Mark 10:45). The of man has not come employees. He has come good. We dare not try to work for lest we rob Him of His glory impugn His righteousness” (14-15). I am prone to fail at properly mingling love, and a dad who loves his girls – and but the sons are to this illustration about dads and daughters – I offered I thought love in the of grace when probably should have in the of But softies when it comes to their (just moms are responsible for that


If we must sell all, we should do It, Jesus saiD, “with Joy” BecAuSe thE fieLd we aim to buy coNTainS the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).

by ChrIsTIan hEDoNism, I Do not meAN tHAT ouR hApPinEsS Is The hiGheSt good. I Mean that puRsuInG the highest gOOd Will always ResUlt in our happIneSs. But aLmOst ALl ChrIstIans bElieve THis. ChrIstian hedOnISm says MOre, nameLY, ThAt we Should pursue happiNEsS With all our mighT. The deSiRE tO BE haPpy Is a proper mOtIve foR Every goOD dEED, And IF you abandon thE pursuit of yOUr oWn joy, yOu CanNOt love Man or PlEAse god. That’s whaT makEs ChristiAn hedoNIsm contROversiaL (46).

“God’s lOve DoeS not COnFlIct WiTH hiS HoLinESs aNd righteOuSnEss. On The cONTRAry, tHe nAturE of GoD’s holiness and RigHteoUSneSs demAnds tHat HE bE a God Of love. his hoLiNess is the absoluTe unIqueness aNd iNfIniTe Value OF His glOry. his RighteoUsness iS his UnSWERvIng commitment alwayS tO HOnOr and disPlay thAT gLoRY. And His aLl-SufFiciENT glorY is hONoRed and diSplayeD MoSt By His woRkIng for Us RatHer Than oUR worKing foR Him. And tHat is LOve.

Love is at the HEart of God’s beiNG bECAuSE God’S frEe and sovereIgn dISpenSing OF mErcY Is morE glorIoUS tHAn would be the demand fOr Humans To filL up some lack in himself. It iS MORe glorioUs to GIvE Than to receive. THerefOre, the righTEousness Of God Demands tHat He be a gIVEr. TherefOre, The holY anD rIgHteous One is loVE.

jesuS iS the incArnAtion of god’S loVe. ANd wHeN He came, He Said, “The SOn Of maN cAme Not to BE served, bUt To sErVe, aNd to gIVe his lIfe as A ranSoM fOR maN” (Mark 10:45).

ThE soN OF man HaS nOt coMe sEeKing eMploYEes. he has coMe to emploY HiMSelf FoR oUr good. WE dare not try to WoRk for Him leSt We rOb Him oF hIs glory aNd impugn His righteousnesS” (14-15).

i am pronE to Fail aT proPerly mingLinG rightEouSNess, loVe, and hOlineSs. as a DAD who lOVEs His GiRls – and boys, BUT thE sons ArE irrElevant To this illustration ABouT dads and daughTerS – I haVE OfFerED wHAt I ThOUghT WAs love in the form Of grace wheN I PRoBably shoulD HavE oFfered lOve in thE form OF discipLine. But daDs can be soFtIes wHEN it Comes to theIr girls (jUst like moMS are rESpOnsibLe fOr that SiN


If we must sell all, weshould doit, J esu s s ai d, “ with  joy” becauset he f ield we aim to buy con tains  t h e hi d de n tre asure ( M at t .  13 :4 4) .
By Ch risti anhedonis m, I do no t m ea n that our h a pp iness is t hehighest good . I  meanth atp ursui ngthe h ighest good w ill alway sr esulti n our h a p pi ness . But almost allC hr i stians believe  this.  C h ri s t ian  he donism say smore, namely, th a t wes hould pursuehappiness w i thall ou rmig h t. The  desi re tobe happy is  a p roper mot ive fo r  everyg ood dee d, and  if  yo u ab a nd on  th ep urs u it  of you r own jo y,  y ou ca nnot l o v e ma n o r pl easeGod. That’s w hat  mak e s C hrist ian h edon is m con trover sial(4 6).

“God’s lov e do es not co nfl ic t w it h his holine ssand  righte ousness .  On  t h e co ntrary, the nature  o f Go d’s holi ness a n dri g hteousne ss  de mand s thatHe b e  a  God oflove.H is  h oliness  i s theab sol ute  uniq u enes s andinfinite  valu e  of His glory. His righteous n es s is Hisuns werving com mitm e nt a lway s  t o h o nor a nd di sp l ay that glory. And His  a ll-suf ficie nt glory is h onored and d i splayedmost by His working fo r usrather tha n  our wor kingfor Him.  And that i s love.
Lo veisatt h eheart of God’ s bein gbecause  Go d’s fre e a ndsov ere ig n dispens ing of m er cy  i smor e glo r ious tha nwou ld  be  thed emandfor h uman sto fil l up so m el a ck i nHi msel f.It  is m oreg lor ious to  give tha n t o  rec ei ve . There fore, the rig ht eousness o fGod  deman d s  that He  be a giver. Therefore, the Hol y a nd Ri ghte ous One i s l ove.
Jes u s is t he inc arnat io n o f God’s l ov e.An d when Hec a me,  He s ai d, “ The Son  of Man came not t o  be  served, buttoserv e ,  a ndt og ive  h i s l i f e as a ransom f or man” (M ar k  1 0:45).

Th e  So nof manhas not  come seeking  employee s. He has  c omet o  em ploy Himse lf for o ur good.W e dar e  n ot tr y t o work  f orHim l est we rob  Himof His  g lory a nd im pu gn His r ighteousness” (14-15).
I amprone  to  fail atpro p erl y minglin g ri ghteousnes s,lov e, an d h o lines s. A s  a  da d  wholove s  his girl s  –  an d bo ys, but the s o nsare i rre l evantto t his illustrationa bout dads anddaug h t ers  –I  hav eoffered what I  th ou g h t was lo ve  in the for m of gra ce whenI prob ably s hould h a v eo ffered  lov e i n the for m o fd iscipli ne .B ut dad s ca nbe sof ties w h en i t comes to their g irls( j ust l i kemomsar e respo n sibl e for that  sin


If we_must sell_all, we should do_it, Jesus_said,_“with joy”_because_the field we_aim to buy_contains the hidden treasure_(Matt. 13:44).

By Christian_hedonism,_I do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. I mean that_pursuing_the highest_good_will_always result in our happiness._But almost all Christians believe_this. Christian_hedonism says more, namely, that we should pursue_happiness_with all our_might. The desire to be happy is a proper_motive for every good deed, and_if you abandon_the_pursuit_of your own joy,_you cannot love man or please_God. That’s what makes Christian hedonism_controversial (46).

“God’s love does not conflict with_his holiness and righteousness. On the_contrary, the nature of God’s_holiness and_righteousness demands that He be_a God of_love. His_holiness is the_absolute uniqueness and infinite value of_His glory. His_righteousness is His unswerving commitment always_to_honor and display_that_glory._And His_all-sufficient glory is_honored_and displayed_most_by His working for us rather_than_our working for Him. And that is_love.

Love is at the_heart_of God’s being because_God’s free and sovereign dispensing_of mercy is more glorious than_would be_the demand_for humans to fill up some lack in Himself. It is_more glorious to give than to_receive. Therefore, the righteousness_of God_demands_that He be_a_giver. Therefore,_the Holy and Righteous One is love.

Jesus_is the_incarnation of God’s love. And when_He came, He said,_“The_Son of Man came not to_be served, but to serve, and_to give his life as_a_ransom_for man” (Mark 10:45).

The Son_of man has not come seeking_employees. He has_come to employ Himself for our good._We_dare not try to work for_Him_lest we rob Him of His_glory_and_impugn His righteousness” (14-15).

I am_prone to fail at properly mingling_righteousness, love, and holiness. As a dad who loves_his girls –_and boys, but the sons_are_irrelevant_to this illustration about dads and daughters – I have_offered what_I thought was_love in the form of grace when I probably should_have offered love in the form of_discipline. But dads can be softies when it comes to their_girls (just like moms are responsible for that_sin