Lois and her husband, Steve, are College Church missionaries, serving with Training Leaders International. They are also founding members of our most recent church plant, Christ Church South Metro Atlanta (GA).

I have long prayed that God would "break my schemes for earthly joys that I would find my all in Him." (John Newton)

This morning, the Lord showed me cracks in the false earthly joys I have sought after.

Ray Ortlund has written "Beatitudes" from the world's perspective. These beatitudes caught me off guard.

"Blessed are the entitled, for they get their way.
Blessed are the carefree, for they are comfortable.
Blessed are the pushy, for they win.
Blessed are the self righteous, for they need nothing.
Blessed are the vengeful, for they will be feared.
Blessed are those who don't get caught, for they look good.
Blessed are the argumentative, for they get in the last word.
Blessed are the winners, for they get their way."

Now, which of the rewards of these "beatitudes" do you wish you had?

I looked at this list and had to admit I want to be comfortable and need nothing. I also want to look good. These are false idols. They are not connected to spiritual and eternal realities.

There is no lasting comfort in this world. There is no one in this world who can say he has everything that he needs. There is no perfect person in this world. The world has offered rewards that cannot be given.

And then the world audaciously dictates how to earn these false rewards!

And we nod in agreement.

We put our hope in these rewards and run after them - pretending we are carefree, declaring our self-righteousness, working hard not to get caught. But no matter how hard we try at these things, we do not get the rewards because they are not real.

This exercise in looking at contrasting "beatitudes" made the real ones more beautiful. Each reality Christ offered is a spiritual, eternal and obtainable gift of a gracious and powerful Father who gives us a new heart so that we can be poor in spirit and meek.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:1-10)

It is better to desire to be comforted than to be comfortable. This acknowledges the truth that there are things in my world that will cause me to mourn. This looks outside of myself for the answer to the sadness in the world.

It is better to know the satisfaction of Christ's righteousness than to strive after the impossible goals of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency. This is in line with the reality that no one is righteous. Again, it causes me to look outside of myself for a righteousness that is not my own but is graciously given to me.

To strive after earthly joys and rewards is to strive after the wind. There is only one true way to blessedness.