Is God most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him?

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 12, 2018

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" -John Piper
I've heard this quote multiple times before, but recently learned that it was actually John Piper who coined it. I assumed it was from the bible, but obviously, I was wrong. I held it as truth, and let it govern most my time in worship. I felt glad when I felt satisfied, which, of course, made me even more glad. But is it true? I was curious how much truth/scriptural evidence there is to this. Let me know if you can think of anyplace in the bible that this idea is found. Thanks!
In Christ, Matt

Serving Zion · Feb 12, 2018

Matisyahu8898 said:
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" -John Piper
I've heard this quote multiple times before, but recently learned that it was actually John Piper who coined it. I assumed it was from the bible, but obviously, I was wrong. I held it as truth, and let it govern most my time in worship. I felt glad when I felt satisfied, which, of course, made me even more glad. But is it true? I was curious how much truth/scriptural evidence there is to this. Let me know if you can think of anyplace in the bible that this idea is found. Thanks!
In Christ, Matt

What is implied by being dissatisfied in God, is resentment or discontentment toward Him who is holy. I don't know whether it is ever not sinful to be dissatisfied with God (any examples?).

Of course if a Christian is dissatisfied with God and it has a root of sin (eg pride - Proverbs 19:3), then how can it be possible for Him to be glorified in them? .. (Not just a rhetorical question, consider Romans 9:22).

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 12, 2018

Serving Zion said:
What is implied by being dissatisfied in God, is resentment or discontentment toward Him who is holy. I don't know whether it is ever not sinful to be dissatisfied with God (any examples?).

Of course if a Christian is dissatisfied with God and it has a root of sin (eg pride - Proverbs 19:3), then how can it be possible for Him to be glorified in them? .. (Not just a rhetorical question, consider Romans 9:22).

I agree that dissatisfaction, does not lead to glorification. However, does satisfaction, lead to glorification? Furthermore, Piper implies levels of satisfaction. Does more satisfaction, lead to more glorification?

com7fy8 · Feb 12, 2018

Matisyahu says John Piper said:
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him"

Matisyahu8898 said:
Let me know if you can think of anyplace in the bible that this idea is found.

I do not think I know anything about John Piper; so what he really means, I would not know. What he means by it, in himself and his personal life, would be important to if it is scriptural.

But I do understand that God wants us to be satisfied. This can include how we have "rest for your souls" (in Matthew 11:28-30).

So, if we are deeply satisfied with the LORD because He is giving us "rest for your souls", He is glorified by this because we are living proof that He does give us soul rest like His word says.

Also, in Hebrews 13:5 we have >

"be content with such things as you have".

I understand this means that because we are content with God Himself, we do not care much about all which is so less than He is. So, being content because we are satisfied mainly with God would be glorifying Him, by considering Him to be the only One we really desire in order to have contentment.

Also, Psalm 100:2 includes >

"Serve the LORD with gladness".

If we are glad to serve the LORD instead of seeking our own selves and our own ways and things, this is glorifying God. And God wants us to be glad . . . satisfied . . . to serve Him instead of our own selfish stuff. So, if we are satisfied to serve Him, gladly, this glorifies Him.

And I would say this all comes with growing in Jesus. So, we grow in this and the satisfaction of this, and how this glorifies God.

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 12, 2018

com7fy8 said:
I do not think I know anything about John Piper; so what he really means, I would not know. What he means by it, in himself and his personal life, would be important to if it is scriptural.

But I do understand that God wants us to be satisfied. This can include how we have "rest for your souls" (in Matthew 11:28-30).

So, if we are deeply satisfied with the LORD because He is giving us "rest for your souls", He is glorified by this because we are living proof that He does give us soul rest like His word says.

Also, in Hebrews 13:5 we have >

"be content with such things as you have".

I understand this means that because we are content with God Himself, we do not care much about all which is so less than He is. So, being content because we are satisfied mainly with God would be glorifying Him, by considering Him to be the only One we really desire in order to have contentment.

Also, Psalm 100:2 includes >

"Serve the LORD with gladness".

If we are glad to serve the LORD instead of seeking our own selves and our own ways and things, this is glorifying God. And God wants us to be glad . . . satisfied . . . to serve Him instead of our own selfish stuff. So, if we are satisfied to serve Him, gladly, this glorifies Him.

And I would say this all comes with growing in Jesus. So, we grow in this and the satisfaction of this, and how this glorifies God.

Thanks for the scripture references. I see how our satisfaction, leads to His glory, but would you say that He is most glorified when we are most satisfied? That His highest point of glory, is our highest point of satisfaction?

Serving Zion · Feb 12, 2018

Matisyahu8898 said:
I agree that dissatisfaction, does not lead to glorification. However, does satisfaction, lead to glorification? Furthermore, Piper implies levels of satisfaction. Does more satisfaction, lead to more glorification?

It just seems that if someone is not fully satisfied, they must be a bit dissatisfied.

nonaeroterraqueous · Feb 12, 2018

If you want to understand it in context, I believe the quote can be found in his book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Hint: if you go to the Amazon Kindle Book page for this book, you can "look inside" and see enough of the introduction to get a good idea of what he means). Apparently, he had previously thought that being motivated by a desire for his own happiness when volunteering for Christian service or going to church was "selfish, utilitarian, [and] mercenary." It was the idea that higher acts of worship ought to be done selflessly, as a sort of duty. Instead, he now would replace selflessness with love (of Christ), exchanging the negative with a positive motivator. Really, he's just encouraging people to have a positive relationship with Christ rather than have a cold works-based faith, to serve for the joy of serving rather than to count one's own miserableness as a gauge of one's spiritual accomplishment.

Psalms 122:1
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 13, 2018

nonaeroterraqueous said:
If you want to understand it in context, I believe the quote can be found in his book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Hint: if you go to the Amazon Kindle Book page for this book, you can "look inside" and see enough of the introduction to get a good idea of what he means). Apparently, he had previously thought that being motivated by a desire for his own happiness when volunteering for Christian service or going to church was "selfish, utilitarian, [and] mercenary." It was the idea that higher acts of worship ought to be done selflessly, as a sort of duty. Instead, he now would replace selflessness with love (of Christ), exchanging the negative with a positive motivator. Really, he's just encouraging people to have a positive relationship with Christ rather than have a cold works-based faith, to serve for the joy of serving rather than to count one's own miserableness as a gauge of one's spiritual accomplishment.

Psalms 122:1
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Thanks for the context! It makes more sense now.

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 13, 2018

Serving Zion said:
It just seems that if someone is not fully satisfied, they must be a bit dissatisfied.

That's fair. What about the other question? Does God feel glorified in us when we're satisfied in Him?

Serving Zion · Feb 13, 2018

Matisyahu8898 said:
That's fair. What about the other question? Does God feel glorified in us when we're satisfied in Him?

God's glory is achieved when His glory is recognised (eg: Luke 11:48-51), so I would suggest "not necessarily".

Matisyahu8898 · Feb 13, 2018

Serving Zion said:
God's glory is achieved when His glory is recognised (eg: Luke 11:48-51), so I would suggest "not necessarily".

I'm definitely not disagreeing, but I'm failing to see the connection of that passage to what you said. How is Luke 11 explaining that, "God's glory is achieved when His glory is recognised"?

Serving Zion · Feb 13, 2018

Matisyahu8898 said:
I'm definitely not disagreeing, but I'm failing to see the connection of that passage to what you said. How is Luke 11 explaining that, "God's glory is achieved when His glory is recognised"?

Fair enough. If a person does not ascribe glory to Him when they ought, how is He glorified at all? You may remember the expression "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Consider that the prophets and Jesus Christ Himself were despised by the arrogant ones. Those arrogant ones did not give glory to God through His servants, even when they should have. Whether they were satisfied in God is another matter though. Maybe John 8:24 demonstrates it easier.

com7fy8 · Feb 14, 2018

Matisyahu8898 said:
would you say that He is most glorified when we are most satisfied? That His highest point of glory, is our highest point of satisfaction?

I would say yes . . . if we are glorifying Him.

Is God most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him?

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