Christ Is the Reward

Anyone who has spent time in an underdeveloped country will tell you that his/her re-entrance into America was a shock: the billboards, the flashing signs, the convenience, the instant gratification.
The if-I-want-it-I-get it. 

Most of the signs and advertisements entice the target audience by offering pleasure. This is a no-brainer. No company uses an ad that says "This is a horrible deal," or "Boring products that will make you sick," or "Nauseous food." Marketers try to get attention by insinuating that you really want what they are advertising; that your life will be sub-par if you do not have it; that you will not be happy until you get it.

This tenth commandment of marketing works because people are pleasure-seekers.

In his book, The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene recognizes this tendency of human nature and offers a practical application of it:

 Law 13

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,

Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

Because it details the fallen-ness of human nature and encourages success-seekers to exploit that nature, I like to call The 48 Laws of Power "the horridly insightful book." It's true. The laws are applicable in most situations. And Law 13 is applicable in every situation. What does that say about human nature?

You may think people in the church and in ministry can be excepted from this rule. Nope. All people everywhere seek their own happiness.

You may think this means that all people are selfish.
And it does.

You may also think that in order to be "good" we must be miserable and trudge through life doing "good" deeds.
No. We don't.

The ironic thing about people is that they spend their whole life looking for happiness, yet they overlook the one thing that will bring the most pleasure. They look absolutely everywhere: in an occupation, in appearance, in doing charitable deeds, in relationships, in magazines, in wealth, in poverty. They look for fulfillment everywhere.

Everywhere except the One Person Who actually will give it to them.

One of the reasons people don't look to God for happiness is that they think He would disapprove of them being happy. It's as if they think happiness is a sin.

God is the greatest treasure of all time. To know God is to be happy.

Note the I did not say "Knowing God will make you happy." Many people think that they must get "close to God" so that God will give them what they want -- because "getting close to God" is not what they want.

And why is God not what they want? Because they do not think God is the greatest thing to have. They've grown up with fairy tales that idealize romance and princes. They want God to give them a prince or a princess that will make their dreams come true. Do you see what they are assuming? They are assuming that God cannot make their dreams come true! They are assuming that God cannot make them happy! Instead, they place that expectation on a significant other: which happens to be an expectation that no human can live up to. To expect someone or something else to fulfill you is not only unfair to yourself and others; it is insanity. "Insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting different results." Have you ever met a truly satisfied person? I'd bet it didn't come from wealth or a position in society or a boyfriend.

The only One Who can make you the most happy is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:21
"for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 Psalm 139:17

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

Treasure Christ above all things. He is your greatest treasure. Compared with all else, He is your only treasure.