God Didn’t Just Provide for Our Practical Needs

[ 2 ] November 16, 2012 |

When life seems like it is dull at times, praise God because it could be worse!  John Calvin reminds us that God didn’t just provide for our practical needs, but also for our delight.

Now if we ponder to what end God created food, we shall find that he meant not only to provide for necessity but also for delight and good cheer. Thus the purpose of clothing, in addition to necessity, was comeliness and honor. In grasses, trees and fruits, besides their various uses, there is beauty of appearance and sweetness of aroma. . . . Has the Lord clothed the flowers with the great beauty which greets our eyes, the sweetness of aroma that is wafted upon our nostrils, and yet will it be unlawful for our eyes to be affected by that beauty or our sense of smell by the sweetness of that aroma? (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.10.2)

God gives us all sorts of variety, he could have just stuck us with one type of flower and one type of tree, but He didn’t.  Think of the odd creatures He put on this earth.  Why did He make sunsets so colorful?  Because He is glorified in them, but they are also awe-inspiring.  In them we see His handiwork.  He is a creative, awesome, and powerful God!

HT: Ray Ortlund

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Category: Faith

About the Author ()

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts.  He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm.  He is a communications director for American Principles Project’s Preserve Innocence Initiative.  Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings.  He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought after speaker and pulpit fill-in.  Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids.  Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.  You can connect with Shane on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and Google +.
  • http://kansasbob.com Kansas Bob

    I like dull and boring Shane. Excitement seems to come in bad forms these days. Just saying.

    • http://shanevanderhart.com/ Shane Vander Hart

      Totally understand, but fortunately the type of excitement I’m talking about isn’t what you’re referring to :)

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