The Lord is how he is because being that way is the best for all, but often what is best for all carries a terrible price for him.1 The Lord’s mortal life was full of suffering that dwarfed any positive experiences he enjoyed while here. He lived so as to maximize what he gave to all rather than what he received in return.2 His life was aimed at the greatest eternal joy, not the greatest present pleasure, and these two aims tend to point in very different directions.3 Human nature seeks to maximize temporal comfort and security. While neither of these things are evil in and of themselves, seeking them often works contrary to God’s purposes.4
If you want to avoid hindering what God could teach you about himself, you’ll have to let go of the idea of temporal comfort and security. There is a limit to how much you can follow Jesus while insisting on a certain level of temporal comfort and security. When a certain man came to Jesus professing his desire to follow him wherever he went, Jesus replied by saying: “the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) All value derived from possessions is subject to loss while in this life. In order to gain eternal security, learning about and living more like Jesus must be a higher priority than maintaining temporal security, as in many cases, any preference for the latter will absolutely limit the former.
In any moment, what you learn or already know about Jesus may direct you to think, feel, or act in a way that causes you to lose temporal comfort and security. Each such moment is a critical test in which few people consistently choose well.5 Desires not specifically aimed at Jesus above all else6 will invariably fail to notice these tests and choose incorrectly even in the situations that are noticed.7
Footnotes
- 1. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9) ↩
- 2. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) ↩
- 3. O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnallyminded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal. (2 Nephi 9:39) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7) ↩
- 4. But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16:5) ↩
- 5. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately (Luke 12:36) ↩
- 6. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (Luke 17:7-8) ↩
- 7. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34) ↩