“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

I look forward to this time of year. When I hear that pitchers and catchers are reporting for spring training, I know that the start of baseball season is only weeks away.  Over the last few years, though, it’s been unclear as to who will be on your team.  Last-minute trades and unsigned player hold-outs have produced quite a bit of anxiety for devout baseball fans. If they land on your team, standout players in the prime of their career give fans renewed hope and create excitement for the best possible season. They are represented by agents who hammer out the details of mega million-dollar contracts with  new teams before anyone is signed. A lot of gamesmanship goes on behind the scenes to attract a talented player to a certain franchise, as fans become frustrated with the rumors that sometimes go on for months. To be sure, there are a lot of back and forth conversations to negotiate the best possible deal. Often times it comes down to what team will offer the most money over a specified contract period. As you might imagine, greed without any guarantee of happiness can influence the eventual decision.

I was heartened recently while watching an episode of This Is Us in which there was a flashback scene into the childhood of one of the main characters, Kevin Pearson.  Kevin stood in line for a long time waiting to get the autograph of one of his favorite baseball players who was rumored might be traded to the Minnesota Twins. His mother watched in the distance as Kevin appeared to have a very cordial conversation with the player who is in the process of autographing his baseball card. When the signing ends and Kevin walks away, the mother approaches the player inquiring what he and her son discussed. He says that Kevin studied a travel guide from his school library to match the ‘best places to go’ in Minneapolis with the hobbies listed on this rookie’s baseball card. He told Kevin’s mother that “he just wanted to make sure I was happy.”  Kevin wanted to be more than a fan with a now cherished autograph. He desired to extend the rare gift of friendship to assure his favorite player would find true happiness.

Offering happiness is not often the objective of fans with their own selfish motives. If we are fortunate to have any form of success in life, we might find that we will acquire fans of some sort. While those persons might never want our autograph, they may use us to satisfy their own agenda. It might come in the form of a request for a job reference or the influence that might be gained by being able to say they are acquainted with you. They may want to pick your brain, or on occasion – they may want to pick your pockets.  Who knows what lurks in the minds of those who seemingly wish to befriend us? Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command . . . I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:14-16). Jesus wants us to have a relationship with Him. When we do so, the thought process that will follow is not based on what will make us happy but rather what will please God. As a result, the blessings will flow, and our net worth will be evidenced by the fruit that we bear.

Christians and non-Christians do not disagree that happiness should be a human goal, but they should disagree with how this goal is best achieved. If we set ourselves up as the center of the universe by making decisions from a personal perspective of greed, will never guarantee our long-term happiness. Jesus warned: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). When a sports team examines the cost/benefit analysis of signing a new player, there is a point that they have to simply be willing to walk away. The same is true with any Christian who is assessing an accumulation of wealth decision. When a situation like that challenges you, you have to scrutinize the motives of who or what you will allow to control your life. Then you will be able to easily respond to anyone who might ask: Is Jesus really your friend, or are you merely a fan?

REFLECTION: Which makes you more happy – to be humbled or exalted? How serious are you about a relationship with Jesus? Would you say you are more of a fan or a friend? What sacrifices would you have to make if you were to move into a closer relationship with Him? Are you willing to make this sacrifice?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 2, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.