“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:10–11)
It is not man’s natural abilities—often so admired and sometimes even idealized in the world—that bring joy to our Father. They are merely tools and derive their true value only from the purpose for which they are used. What good is great intelligence in the eyes of the Lord if it is not used for good?
Time and again, people are tempted to define their worth based on things that merely add to their lives and do not constitute what is essential. This temptation can even penetrate the Church, and it is not uncommon for people to adopt worldly standards instead of applying the standards that God uses. We are very familiar with these standards from the Holy Scriptures. Today’s passage is a good example.
Our Father takes pleasure in a simple and humble heart that seeks Him, trusts in Him, and desires to serve Him. This does not require many outward gifts!
If we have many material possessions and natural gifts, they should not detract from the simplicity of the heart. When we realistically view them in the Lord, we see that they all originally come from God—even if we have played a part in their development, for which God in turn has given us the ability. It is our task to use them in the service of God and others.
The core of our being remains our inner focus on our Father’s love. We live by it. Recognizing this with gratitude day after day and honoring our Father brings joy to God!