“What is the chief end of man?” and answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever”. -The Westminster Shorter Catechism

I have been reading Middlemarch by George Eliot. The author’s real name is Mary Ann Evans. The book is about life in the 1800s in a fictional town called Middlemarch (England).

It is a wonderful book and the writing is spectacular. Seriously, this kind of writing simply does not exist in our modern world.

Dorothea Brooke is the main character and she falls in love with Reverend Casaubon and marries him. Rev Casaubon is a well respected man and, although he is much older than Dorothea, at first the marriage seems like it will work out.

After some time Dorothea observes something about her husband that deeply troubles her. Rev Casaubon loves to study, read, write, and learn. But Dorothea notices that Casaubon does not find much joy in his Christian faith.

For Casaubon (and many of us), Christianity is more like a set of interesting facts to learn than a beautiful symphony to be enjoyed.

Here is why all of this stands out to me, Casaubon is a cautionary tale to everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

I think if we were being honest we would all admit that there are many times when the stuff of this world deadens our soul to the greatness of God. Without being aware of it, we become like Casaubon and go through the religious motions without deeply enjoying our Creator.

Middlemarch has reminded me that merely doing good things and being involved in church is not nearly enough. God desires to be loved and enjoyed.

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” -Matthew 22:35-38

Which means that one of the most important things I can do in my own life is stoke the flames of gratitude, contentment, awe, and joy for Christ.

Feel free to share your thoughts…