Psalm 36:7–8 (NIV)

7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! 

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

8 They feast on the abundance of your house; 

you give them drink from your river of delights.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) 

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

We host orchestras, Broadway singers, and dancers in our backyard. We make homemade pizzas and 24-hour brisket, and we serve mashed potatoes in martini glasses. We hang lights and silly backdrop photos of Venice and Paris. We share the gospel and sing the doxology at the end of the evening. We do this because we delight ourselves in the Lord.  

As a culture we have forgotten how to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord. We have exchanged the pleasures in God’s right hand for the numbing of Netflix and doomscrolling. We have convinced ourselves that you need to be miserable in order to be Holy and have made laughter a sin. This is a recent invention in the church, and I don’t think Jesus would recognize it at all. Christians throughout the ages have been known for their great joy and celebration. It was a monk that invented champagne and exclaimed, “Brothers come quickly, I’m drinking stars!” As Dallas Willard said, “You are an unceasing being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe.” How could we not celebrate?

Your Turn:

John Piper makes the distinction between hedonism and Christian hedonism. While the hedonist lives for satisfying their own pleasure, the Christian hedonist lives for others from the strength derived from their delight in the Lord. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This week we are going to choose to live as Christian hedonists. Knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father, choose to receive from His right hand the pleasures He has for you. 

Step 1: Receive

• Eat the meal, drink the wine, order dessert.

• Dance, sing, and play.

• Take a nap, go for a walk, lounge by the pool.

• Figure out what brings you great joy and delight, and then do it. 

Step 2: Rejoice

• For each delight you experience, take a moment to recognize it as a gift from the right hand of God.

• All beauty and delight that we experience in this world is meant to point us to the goodness and love of God. Let it do its job. 

Step 3: Respond

• Receive it with gratitude and respond with thanksgiving and worship. 

• Celebrate the kindness and generosity of your God.