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Sunday, May 25, 2014

Satisfaction and Reward

 
Was I satisfied?

 
Was I happy?


How do you measure satisfaction? How do you measure happiness? Is it important to be satisfied and happy?

If you are a hedonist, i.e., a person who devotes ones life to the pursuit of pleasure; then being happy and being satisfied is your raison d'ĂȘtre.

 If you are an altruist, i.e., your life is devoted to working for the welfare of others, and they are happy as a result of your efforts; you are happy too, but your own happiness is not your raison d'ĂȘtre. You may gain great satisfaction from your efforts, but your aim and purpose is to promote the welfare of others.

Whether you are hedonistic, altruistic, or a bit of both, you may adopt the ethical aphorism, ‘Effort brings reward’. Your sense of justice tells you this should be the case. Logic reasons that it is fair and right, but in practice you know that effort does not always bring reward; therefore you have no guarantee that you will gain satisfaction or happiness. You know you have no certainty of reward.

No amount of effort will guarantee a reward.

Things are different for the Christian; he is neither altruistic nor hedonistic, nor is he a bit of both. His satisfaction comes from selflessly serving Christ for His glory. He does not wok for his salvation, but because of his salvation! His greatest reward is the gift of eternal life which is given by God. No amount of effort can bring about this gift, because it is a free gift - Jesus was given to him free of charge to cleanse him eternally for access to God.

No gift can be earned, only received. The reward of eternal life is guaranteed because of the perfect work of Jesus.

John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

Colossians 3:17 ‘And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’

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