God could not enjoy winning a competition, He never loses. He could not enjoy an abundance of material things, He owns everything.
Since God is not threatened by a lack of anything; and since He is not threatened with eternal damnation, where does He find pleasure?
The Bible tells us that God takes pleasure in helping those who fear Him (Psalm 147:11). He takes pleasure in seeing those who fear Him prosper (Psalm 35:27). Adopting men through the blood of Christ is according to His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5). It is also His good pleasure to give His disciples the Kingdom (Luke 12:32).
God does not desire any to perish, but that all might come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). Therefore, God finds pleasure when one repents of sin and turns to Him.
Jesus found pleasure in always doing the things that pleased God the Father (John 8:39). That’s why God found pleasure in Jesus (Isaiah 42:1). Since Jesus is our Example (1Peter 2:21), God will find pleasure in us if we do only those things that please Him.
God takes pleasure in helping others. In 2Chronicles 16:9, we are told that the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the earth looking for those whose heart is perfect toward Him in order to show Himself strong in their behalf.
Why do you and I take pleasure in helping others who have a genuine need? Because we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Think of all the things you have sacrificed to try and set your children on the right path of life. Do you feel bad about that? Of course not! Why? Because you are created in the image of God.
Are you looking for real meaning and purpose in life? It can only be found by doing those things in which God finds pleasure, because we are made in His image. You may have an abundance of “things” but still have a void in your life. To fill it, do the things that Jesus did, that is, always doing the things that please God (John 8:39), and helping others (Acts 10:38b). — Toby Miller
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