Happiness is having what we want. THE primary motivation for everything we do is happiness, YET…
No one alive is wise enough to know what is best for them (Jer 17:9), in fact… We never imagine that getting our heart’s deepest desires might be the worst thing that can ever happen to us (Tim Keller). And yet we are consumed with getting what our heart desires, which is 99% of the time selfish to the point of hurting, attacking, and maiming those around us (Ja 4:2-4).
We are so self consumed that we pervert Psalm 37:4 to say God wants to give us what WE want. We are so focused on our own heart we even try to make our desires sound godly in hopes of tricking God somehow using Ps 84:11, Mt 6:33, and Ro 8:31-33 as our arguments. So we preach, teach Sunday School, go into ministry, tithe, go to church, and 10,000 other things thinking God will award us for good behavior.
Just one problem… that philosophy is not only wrong, it is heretical and un-Biblical! The message of the prosperity gospel is wrong.
Consider what is taught in the Scripture…
The first step is radical generosity, giving all we have to others for their good and not accumulating things for ourselves (Mt 5:42; Mk 10:21). This includes our life, freedom, and possessions (Lk 9:23; Heb 10:34). And doing so for God’s glory (1 Cor 10:31).
Then we adjust our heart to be in line with God’s will for us rather than our own. Our “good” in Romans 8:28 is conformity to Christ of Romans 8:29. Instead of coveting things of this life (1 Jn 2:15), we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt 5:6) which is conformity to Christ. Making us more like Christ (Which is our ultimate good) is not left to chance because God’s Spirit intercedes for us at that point (Ro 8:27). And so when we pray we are confident that God will help us (Heb 4:16) as we pray these things according to God’s will (1 Jn 5:14).
As a result of the last two paragraphs, God eliminates our anxiety and grants His peace. THIS guards and protects us in Christ (Phil 4:6-7). When our heart is set on Jesus and heaven, THEN Psalm 37:4 is fulfilled.