What's the Point?

[tantelman]

Lately God has been showing me some of my narcisistic (sp?) tendencies, and self-control seems to be in that boat. Espeically in our American culture is it so easy to get caught up with the god of our flesh (self). If all we do is live for happiness (i.e. pleasure, satisfaction, good feelings), then what is the point of self-control? I think this might be why the bible is jammed packed full of teachings about dieing to our self. The realization that we can live a life full of "happiness" by living for something bigger than just self. I think our forefathers got it right when they said the pursuit of happiness, not the pursuit of pleasure. I remember someone saying before that true character is what we see when we have a decision to do what's right and basically to do what we want. When those two things aren't the same, then we can really see what we really believe. Do we choose to do what is right or do we do what feel's right? Personally, my feelings are deceptive and usually steer me to distruction and sorrow. It could be that my character just sucks. Or maybe even my view of God isn't correct. If I live for myself, my life ends up pretty miserable, lonely and empty. When I choose to live for Jesus, life takes on meaning and purpose. Meaning and purpose don't always make me feel happy, or satisfied, or even full of pleasure, but then and only then does being content and fullfilled even venture back into my vocabulary.
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"Good is the enemy of Great"