45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12-13, 1723.

Commentary

In today's resolution, we see that Edwards was laser-focused in his ambition to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). We have a tendency as Christians to allow the natural out-workings of life; pleasure, grief, joy, and sorrow to consume us and distract us from the glories of the gospel and our straining toward Christ (Phil. 3:12-14).

• Our pleasures are overindulgences that lead to a type of drunkenness.

• Our grief is excessive and makes us embittered toward God and others.

• Our joy is fixed to the created instead of the Creator and will perish.

• Our sorrow is counterfeit and leads to death (2 Cor. 7:10).

The way out is repentance. Only Christ is worthy of our sustained attention. So bring your pleasures, bring your griefs, bring your joys, and bring your sorrows and lay them at the feet of your Savior who has authority over them all.