Great question-- I think it's a keen insight you've made discerning that dichotomy.
We all need to define what is good in life so we can pursue it. We need to know what'll make us happy, so we can strive for it. The problem we run into is often this puts us on a see-saw of arrogance and despair. When we perform with excellence and get what we want, we grow proud and have little mercy for other people who haven't made it as far as we have. Conversely, when we don't get what we want, we fall into despair and start believing we'll never be happy because we don't have what it takes.
Not everyone would agree with me on this, but the only object of pursuit I've found that breaks the see-saw and brings you to a place of true humility is Jesus.
When I read the bible, I see I have no reason to despair, because Jesus saved me, and but I also see I have no reason to be arrogant, because I did not save myself. That the son of God died to pay for the bad things I've done holds such profoundness for me. It means I have nothing to brag about, because I see the things I've done are so bad God had to kill his own son for me. But it also means I am totally loved and have nothing to despair about, because God made the sacrifice anyway, in spite of how bad I am.
Obviously, I struggle to believe these things all the time, or else I wouldn't have drawn the comic above-- but I am convinced these things are true whether I believe them or not.
I'd be open to any thoughts you have on that of course-- thanks for your question and your time!
We all need to define what is good in life so we can pursue it. We need to know what'll make us happy, so we can strive for it. The problem we run into is often this puts us on a see-saw of arrogance and despair. When we perform with excellence and get what we want, we grow proud and have little mercy for other people who haven't made it as far as we have. Conversely, when we don't get what we want, we fall into despair and start believing we'll never be happy because we don't have what it takes.
Not everyone would agree with me on this, but the only object of pursuit I've found that breaks the see-saw and brings you to a place of true humility is Jesus.
When I read the bible, I see I have no reason to despair, because Jesus saved me, and but I also see I have no reason to be arrogant, because I did not save myself. That the son of God died to pay for the bad things I've done holds such profoundness for me. It means I have nothing to brag about, because I see the things I've done are so bad God had to kill his own son for me. But it also means I am totally loved and have nothing to despair about, because God made the sacrifice anyway, in spite of how bad I am.
Obviously, I struggle to believe these things all the time, or else I wouldn't have drawn the comic above-- but I am convinced these things are true whether I believe them or not.
I'd be open to any thoughts you have on that of course-- thanks for your question and your time!