Aligning Desire and Will for True Goodness

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound distinction between desire and will, and how these elements shape our lives and spiritual journeys. Desire, while not inherently bad, can narrow our focus and lead us away from what is truly good if left unchecked. It is crucial to subordinate our desires to the will, which has a broader view and is designed to guide us toward goodness. The danger lies in allowing desire to capture our will, leading us to believe that fulfilling our desires is all that matters. This can result in habits that are not aligned with our true values or the person we aspire to become.

We delved into the concept of valuing, as introduced by Carl Rogers, and how societal conditions can distort our intrinsic valuing process. The Bible offers a different perspective, suggesting that while desire is a God-given capacity, it is not a reliable guide on its own. Our desires have been severed from an intrinsic connection with what is good, leading to a cultural quandary where we mistakenly equate desire with goodness.

Love, in its truest form, is directed toward what is good. It is not merely about wanting something but about advancing the good for it. This distinction is crucial in understanding how to love rightly, which is at the heart of redemption. We are invited to examine our desires and consciously choose to say no to those that conflict with what we know to be good. By doing so, we cultivate new desires aligned with goodness, moving away from a life governed by ego and appetite.

Ultimately, the reflection challenges us to consider two fundamental questions: What do I want, and what do I value? By aligning our desires with our values, we can become the kind of person we aspire to be, liberated from the tyranny of unsatisfied desires and moving toward a life of love and goodness.

Key Takeaways:

1. Desire vs. Will: Desire can narrow our focus and lead us away from what is good if not subordinated to the will. The will has a broader view and is designed to guide us toward goodness, preventing our desires from capturing it. [04:36]

2. Intrinsic Valuing Process: Our intrinsic valuing process can be distorted by societal conditions, leading us away from our true values. The Bible suggests that while desire is a God-given capacity, it is not a reliable guide on its own. [07:49]

3. Love vs. Desire: Love is directed toward what is good, while desire seeks to have its way. Understanding this distinction is crucial for loving rightly and aligning our lives with goodness. [09:21]

4. Cultivating New Desires: By consciously saying no to desires that conflict with what is good, we can cultivate new desires aligned with goodness, moving away from a life governed by ego and appetite. [10:26]

5. Aligning Desires with Values: Reflecting on what we truly want and value helps us align our desires with our values, leading to a life of love and goodness. This alignment is essential for becoming the person we aspire to be. [12:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:56] - The Nature of Desire
- [04:36] - Will vs. Desire
- [05:45] - Habits and Captured Will
- [05:59] - What Do I Value?
- [06:17] - Understanding Desire
- [07:06] - Intrinsic Valuing Process
- [08:03] - Cultural Quandary of Desire
- [08:51] - Love vs. Desire
- [09:40] - Loving Rightly
- [10:12] - Saying No to Conflicting Desires
- [10:59] - Cultivating New Desires
- [11:28] - Moving Toward Love
- [12:09] - Aligning Desires with Values
- [12:52] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 55:2 - "Why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare." [10:43]
2. Romans 7:15-20 - This passage discusses the struggle between desire and will, highlighting the internal conflict between wanting to do good and being drawn to do otherwise.

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does desire affect our perception of others and our actions? [04:21]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the role of the will in relation to desire? [04:36]
3. How does the sermon describe the impact of societal conditions on our intrinsic valuing process? [07:34]
4. What distinction does the sermon make between love and desire, using the example of chocolate cake? [09:05]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the passage from Isaiah 55:2 relate to the sermon’s message about desire and satisfaction? [10:43]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our desires have been severed from an intrinsic connection with what is good? [08:03]
3. How does the sermon’s discussion of Carl Rogers' organismic valuing process challenge or support the biblical perspective on desire? [07:06]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between love and redemption? [09:40]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a desire you have that might conflict with what you know to be good. How can you consciously say no to this desire this week? [10:12]
2. Consider the societal conditions that might distort your intrinsic valuing process. How can you become more aware of these influences in your daily life? [07:34]
3. Think about a time when your will was captured by desire. What steps can you take to ensure your will guides your actions toward goodness? [05:45]
4. How can you align your desires with your values to become the person you aspire to be? What practical steps can you take this week to move in that direction? [12:09]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you can practice loving rightly, as described in the sermon. What actions will you take to advance the good in that situation? [09:40]
6. Reflect on the question, "What do I value?" How can this reflection help you make decisions that align with your true values? [05:59]
7. How can you cultivate new desires that are aligned with goodness, moving away from a life governed by ego and appetite? [10:26]

Devotional

Day 1: The Balance of Desire and Will
Desire, while a natural part of human experience, can often lead us astray if not properly managed. It has the potential to narrow our focus, causing us to lose sight of what is truly good. The will, on the other hand, is designed to guide us toward goodness, offering a broader perspective. When desire captures the will, it can lead to habits and actions that are misaligned with our true values and the person we aspire to become. It is essential to subordinate our desires to the will, allowing it to guide us toward a life of goodness and fulfillment. [04:36]

"For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." (Galatians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a desire in your life that often takes precedence over your will. How can you begin to subordinate this desire to align with your true values today?


Day 2: Rediscovering Our Intrinsic Values
Our intrinsic valuing process, as described by Carl Rogers, can be distorted by societal conditions, leading us away from our true values. The Bible suggests that while desire is a God-given capacity, it is not a reliable guide on its own. Our desires have been severed from an intrinsic connection with what is good, resulting in a cultural confusion where desire is mistakenly equated with goodness. It is crucial to recognize this distortion and seek to realign our desires with our intrinsic values, allowing us to live a life that is true to who we are meant to be. [07:49]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a societal value that has influenced your desires. How can you begin to realign this desire with your intrinsic values today?


Day 3: The True Nature of Love
Love, in its truest form, is directed toward what is good. It is not merely about wanting something but about advancing the good for it. This distinction is crucial in understanding how to love rightly, which is at the heart of redemption. By examining our desires and consciously choosing to say no to those that conflict with what we know to be good, we can cultivate new desires aligned with goodness. This process moves us away from a life governed by ego and appetite, allowing us to experience love in its purest form. [09:21]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where your desires may have overshadowed genuine love. How can you begin to redirect your love toward what is truly good in this relationship today?


Day 4: Cultivating Desires Aligned with Goodness
By consciously saying no to desires that conflict with what is good, we can cultivate new desires aligned with goodness. This process involves moving away from a life governed by ego and appetite, allowing us to develop habits and actions that reflect our true values. It requires intentional reflection and a commitment to aligning our desires with what is truly good, leading to a life of fulfillment and purpose. [10:26]

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a desire that conflicts with your values. What steps can you take today to cultivate a new desire that aligns with goodness?


Day 5: Aligning Desires with Values
Reflecting on what we truly want and value helps us align our desires with our values, leading to a life of love and goodness. This alignment is essential for becoming the person we aspire to be, liberated from the tyranny of unsatisfied desires. By consciously choosing to align our desires with our values, we can experience a life of fulfillment and purpose, moving toward a life of love and goodness. [12:09]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where your desires and values are misaligned. What practical steps can you take today to bring them into alignment?

Quotes


so Dallas writes desire must be subordinated to what is good and it is the role of the will to see that it is that's the difference between will and desire will always has a broader View and God made us with Wills uh that's how will functions in our life the real danger is that desire will capture our will [00:04:24]

there are many people who do not know that they have a will distinct from their desires because their will has been captured by their desire they think if they desire something that's all that's needed [00:04:46]

what do I want second question to think about right now for today is what do I value what is the good what kind of person do I want to become and what good might I seek in this moment this moment right now looking into this camera as I am with you god what good might I be able to do [00:05:51]

we must understand desire not bad in itself but if we allow it to control us it will ruin us and ruin everything around us because desire is not determined by what is good because desire is not determined by what is good and this is a fundamental matter now of understanding The Human Condition and how to become a good person [00:06:19]

the Bible's understanding is very different it is that desire is a very good thing that God made us with the capacity for desire but our desires by themselves are not reliable guides because our desires now have been severed from an intrinsic connection with what is good [00:08:00]

love is always directed at what is good you love something if you are set to advance what is good for it so if you love chocolate cake you would be taking care of it not eating it desire seeks to have its way with what is desire to love rightly of course is what Redemption is all about [00:09:17]

my invitation right now I take one uh desire that you have that can conflict with what you know to be good and today be willing to actually say no to that desire so that you can say yes to the good just to make that distinction because the goal of course is not to live a life where I'm constantly frustrated by unsatisfied desires but where I cease to desire that which is not good and they cultivate a new set of desires that is governed by what is good [00:10:00]

for me for example I very often desire that my time be my own and that it not be interrupted so I can do what I want to do that's a basic desire and I had somebody today ask if I will do them a favor it wasn't Nancy in case you're wondering and it would take about an hour it's kind of An Inconvenient time and so my reflex would be to say no and to say yes and then not with a grudging spirit I guess I have to but oh this gives me a little chance to move in the direction of being the kind of man that I want to be [00:11:01]

but this is a little chance to move in the direction of love to be liberated from a life that is governed simply by the desire of the ego and the appetite and becoming the kind of person that when I reached the end of my life I will want to have become [00:11:48]

what do I want what do I value [00:12:09]

and how can I bring good into this situation [00:09:53]

and it is the role of the will to see that it is that's the difference between will and desire will always has a broader View and God made us with Wills uh that's how will functions in our life the real danger is that desire will capture our will [00:04:31]

and this is a fundamental matter now of understanding The Human Condition and how to become a good person [00:06:45]

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Transcript
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