Far Too Easily Pleased
Emma Yarbrough // UGA Student & Discipleship Intern
There is a C.S. Lewis quote I read one time that says, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
And like, come on! This hit hard because it is true, at least for me. Here I am, wishing for good grades, hoping for the EC bus to get to my stop faster, and worrying about what time I should get to the football game to get a good seat when God is trying to invite me into a life of dwelling with Him. Getting to do life with the Creator of the world is an invitation that is extended to me, and all of you, everyday.
And maybe you aren’t literally making mud pies, but instead you're getting distracted by something else. Maybe you are spending too much time on social media or you are consumed with your career or school pursuits. Or maybe you are happy with where you are and do not feel the need to even pray right now. I mean, what can God do for me when I am content with where I am?
The world tries to steal all of our attention and distract us from the true relationship that we desire. If we are not careful, we will become too satisfied by the world and ache for worldly things instead of longing for His love and remembering what He has already done for us.
We are not the first group of people to be consumed by things on this earth. We are not the first to need reminding of what God has done in our lives. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses reminds the Isrealites of what God has done for them.
“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 8: 11-14)
He is saying, do y’all not remember when we were in slavery not too long ago? Did you forget about those long years that we spent in the wilderness? Just because you have abundant flocks and nice houses, you cannot forget about God, the Provider of all of those things.
When I am in a season of abundance, I need to remember Who led me through the fire. When I am in a season of peace, I need to remember Who led me through the valley. When I am in a season of happiness, I need to remember Who led me out of darkness. It can be so easy to get on my knees to pray when I want help, but so easy to forget when I am content.
Psalm 16 is becoming one of my favorite Psalms because of the reminders it provides for me. It says,
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’
As for the saints in the land, they are excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices, my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
There is SO much encouragement in these verses. In His presence, there is fullness of joy. He provides us joy and pleasure, forever and ever. He put a desire in human nature for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and that desire can only be fulfilled through Him.
I do not want to settle for a life filled with earthly pleasures, especially not while learning of the beautiful inheritance that I am given. But that means I have to put to death all the things that I am familiar with, the things that come easier and are more comfortable than dying to myself everyday. Colossians 3 says we have to put to death the things of the earth and put on new things, as God’s chosen ones.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3: 1-4
I have to put to death the idols I hold above to God. I have to put away selfishness, evil desire, and covetousness - which are all so easy to fall into.
Brandon Lake’s “Wildflowers” song played in my car the other day and the following lyrics stuck out to me.
Your love is amazing / I can hardly contain it
It's the greatest thing I've found
And Your love doesn't waver / Now and forever
It's the greatest thing I've found
We can keep searching and searching the earth for all of our days and never find anything better than God’s love. His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 103:17, Isaiah 45:17), and there is nothing we can do to be separated from His love. Romans 8:38 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Desiring a good job after college is not bad. Desiring a true community or fulfilling relationships is not bad. But the only one that will ever truly fill our hearts - will fill us up to the brim until our cup is running over - is God.
The rest of the quote by Lewis ends, “Indeed, we are far too easily pleased when we pine for anything less than God - and when we ache only for seeing his splendor from afar, rather than going further up and further in, to being accepted, welcomed, or taken into the dance.”
May we be so displeased with this earth that we only ache for God and are taken into the dance. May we desire to know Him more deeply and intimately every day for the rest of our lives.
Emma is an international affairs major at UGA. She is a Watty discipleship intern and is involved in the Jackson tribe! She also serves in the kids ministry and leads worship for them! She is so good at getting to know so many different people and making them feel loved and poured into!
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