Resolved
Jonathan Edwards was an American Congregationalist who lived during the 1700’s. He was a great theologian and philosopher who wrote many works throughout his life, which contributed greatly to the study of theology in America. One of his contributions was called Resolutions: a collection of Edwards’ deepest desires for his own life. Edwards started writing these when he was 19 years old and committed to reading them once a week. These resolutions show Edwards’ deep desire for holiness and for his own joy. As we study them, make these resolutions your own and seek your joy in giving God glory!
Resolution #1
Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
In this resolution, Edwards mentions a theme that is found in much of his writings. He says, “I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure…” Edwards is known for identifying the dual effect of an obedient and God-glorifying life. In our obedience to God we not only show him off to the world (glorify him), we experience great joy while we do it!
The privilege of being a child of God comes with so many great benefits. Just think, as a Christian you can see the world as God sees it: a grand stage where all of history is the storyline and the plot is God’s greatness! What a privilege to know that God is using us to make himself known. And another thing, he has wired us in such a way that when we are making much of him, we get great pleasure! In fact, we get the greatest of all pleasures!
To not see the world as God sees it is to be blind, deceived and delusional. We all tend to think that the world is a place where “I get what’s best for me” or “I do what I want.” This is not reality. It is easy to make up a fake world where we are at the center and God fits neatly into our self-centered story. We have our school, our friends, our jobs, our families, our goals, and we add God and church on to make us feel like we are good folks. We live our lives how we want to and expect to get eternity in heaven because we added God into our schedules.
Friends, this is not real! Real life is this: God is at the center and all things (school, friends, jobs, families, goals etc.) are intended to make much of him. If we lose sight of this, we are not seeing what is real; we are blind.
So, this is just one of the many great, joy-giving truths that we as Christians have. Jonathan Edwards understood that to live a life that has God at the center is to live a life full of joy. Resolve to live a life that glorifies God for this is Christianity; this is reality; and this is joy!
March 14, 2007 at 2:12 am
Jonathn Edwards is a wonderful influence to all youth in that he used his all to give to God to glorify him.
March 14, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Amen! Nicely spoken. As I read through your comments, I was taken in mind to the conversation Jesus had with the Pharisees when they asked him whether he thought they were blind, too, like the man He had healed (John 9). Jesus’ reply was stunning: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” Thinking they could see, they remained blind. Thank you for this post; it is a very good reminder of how easily sin blinds us and how relentlessly we believe that we still see. As long as we remain comfortable in disobedience to Jesus Christ, we are blind, regardless of how well we might think we see.
April 2, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Just like Mr. Cochran said, we are blind. This makes me examine myself to see if I think I’m not blind at times.