Edwards - Joy in His Glory

This quote by Jonathan Edwards is described by John Piper as "outside the Bible, probably the most important paragraph in any book." This paragraph inspired Piper's well known phrase: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

"God is glorified within Himself these two ways: 1. By appearing . . . to Himself in His own perfect idea [of Himself], or in His Son who is the brightness of His glory. 2. By enjoying and delighting in Himself, by flowing forth in infinite love and delight towards Himself, or in his Holy Spirit. So God glorifies Himself toward the creatures also in two ways: 1. By appearing to . . . their understanding. 2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying, the manifestations which He makes of Himself. . . God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, His glory; and that it might [be] received both by the mind and heart. He that testifies his idea of God's glory [doesn't] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it."

Jonathan Edwards is saying that it's not enough to just see or testify of God's glory. We must find our deepest satisfaction and joy and pleasure in glorifying Him. That means that if you have to loose your right arm or gouge out your right eye you must, no matter what, get happy in God. It means that you will never be truly happy or satisfied until God is truly glorified in your thoughts and your affections. God is not most glorified when we simply follow His orders or keep our noses clean; He is most glorified when when we, even in our suffering, are satisfied in Him. It's the most glorious win-win history has ever known... God most glorified and me most satisfied forever.

Heb 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." It is not enough to just believe that God exists. You must believe that He rewards those who seek Him. You must believe that He is the greatest happiness of your deepest joy. You must believe that nothing else in this world, not television or sports or vacations or wealth or even family, will satisfy you as much as Him. You must believe that He is and be most satisfied in Him alone. The reward is not that He gives us temporal blessings and wealth; the reward is our joy in Him.