Earth Has Nothing I Desire

by Brett D. Heintzman

Whenever John Wesley spoke about being perfected in the love of God, he quoted Psalm 73:25 as a prime example of the fruit of such perfection: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

That statement comes from the depths of a heart touched by God and occupied by God. When He is at the very center of who we are, we too will cry out phrases just like this. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

But the statement goes deeper. I truly believe that when God has touched our hearts in such a profound way, we become hungry and thirsty for others to share in that profound abundance. We yearn for the manifest reality of God’s kingdom and that it will become a reality on earth exactly like it is in heaven. 

If there is one prayer on my heart for us as a church, it is that we would be so captivated by God — so ruined for this world that only heaven-on-earth will do. That is also my prayer for the pastors of our churches — that as a collective body of leaders we would follow hard after only one thing — to be in love with God and hungry for the saving gift of Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to ruin us all for this world, and to love our neighbors in the very same way. Truth be told, I believe we need to realign our desires. 

Desire is a powerful force. When we desire something, all our priorities shift and follow the fulfillment of that desire. The mind also follows desire in that it justifies the shifts of our priorities. When we think of desire, hear the psalmist once again: “Earth has nothing I desire besides You (God).” 

Nothing.

Earth has nothing I desire.

Except You alone, Lord God. Only You and what You are doing. Only You and what You are saying. Only You and what You desire. Your desires, God, have now become my own. The things of earth grow strangely dim. I need You. 

In ministry, desire is a powerful thing. What we desire for our “ministry” can become a pool of brackish water — the salt mingling with the fresh — the world mingling with the kingdom. 

Perhaps the reason that a great deal of pastors are discouraged today is that the desires we chase — and shifts in our priorities — are yearning for salt water, not streams of living water. Perhaps our unfulfilled desires for ________ (fill in the blank) in ministry are not rooted in Psalm 73:25. It may be that earth has a few things we desire in the mechanics and “successes” of our ministries. 

This is where the pandemic has been a gift to us. It’s been a wakeup call — it’s been a mighty wind that has blown away the chaff of our ministries. Some are still clutching fistfuls of it — not allowing the wind to blow it away. We desire it. We’ve worked for it. We can’t bear to let it go, but we must. We must open our hands and let the chaff be carried away with the wind. Powerless forms of religion are no match for the wind — they will topple down like a house of cards. But in the wind of the pandemic, the Rock — the Cornerstone — still stands. 

As Paul told the Corinthians:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved — even though only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:11–15).

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalms 73:25).

Now, I want to be transparent. My own spiritual life has been very dry as of late. I am writing as one who is clinging to the Rock in the midst of a storm. The busyness of my ministry work often clouds my ability to center my own heart and mind on the words of the Psalmist. And the demands of my work often trump the desires of my heart. I know clearly that building on the foundation of Christ with gold, silver and costly stones is the goal. But, at times, I wonder if my hands are full of wood, hay or straw. I wonder what the day will bring to light of my own work. It’s a daily battle to keep the main thing the main thing. I’m sure I’m not alone in the struggle. 

I had a conversation recently with Javier Quintana. He and Gloelma were at John Wesley FMC to preach. He told me that he has met with many pastors who are still on the job, but, in their minds, they’ve quit their ministry. These pastors are now like sad, mechanical objects who are going through the motions of ministry, but whose minds have withdrawn and whose hearts have been broken. Yet, this does not have to be the end for all who are weary.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalms 73:25).

One way I seek to feed my soul when I’m discouraged is to read stories of people who personify Psalm 73:25. 

Just recently I finished editing Tyler Boyer’s third prayer book “Thy Presence My Light.” Tyler and other contributing authors have used historical figures from our church to inspire readers in their daily Scripture readings and prayers. One of those that stood out to me this year was Thomas La Due, a contemporary of B.T. Roberts whose life was Psalm 73:25 in living action. 

I want to share three short excerpts from La Due’s biography that was written by his son, John La Due: 

[Personal Letter from Thomas S. La Due] When sanctified, while bathed in tears and sobbing uncontrollably, the burden of my heart and tongue was, “Oh that everybody loved God! How can anyone help loving him? I wish that all loved him as well as, yes, and more than I do or can do.” Then I received a powerful and precious baptism of love for my neighbor, as well as for God. Some months after this I was clearly convicted for a larger degree of this precious grace, and after a few hours struggle the Spirit seized and powerfully pressed my uplifted hands and arms, while my feelings found vent in screams and laughter. (“The Life of Rev. Thomas Scott La Due,” J. La Due, p. 8)

God’s people are peculiar in not living in the same world with those of this [world]. What is the world? Not soil and landscape merely, but, essentially, thoughts, affections, and actions. Our Lord says of His people, “Ye are not of the world.” …  In the world where the mount Iifts its majestic head, and the city stands, and the angels live. In a mystical, and yet delightful sense, the prediction has been accomplished for us, or rather in us, of “a new heaven and a new earth;” for a kingdom is set up within us. (“The Life of Rev. Thomas Scott La Due,” J. La Due, pp. 312–313)

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“Desire is a powerful force. When we desire something, all our priorities shift and follow the fulfillment of that desire.”

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He was a man of unbending fidelity to the truth. Dr. Redfield, when once asked what he thought of him, replied that he was a man whom nothing could swerve from the line of duty, and repeated with emphasis, “He’ll stand. He’ll stand.” (“The Life of Rev. Thomas Scott La Due,” J. La Due, p. 6)

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalms 73:25).

I want to encourage us that inasmuch as it depends on us, we would desire the Lord above all other desires. Remember what I said earlier: Desire is a powerful force. When we desire something, all our priorities shift and follow the fulfillment of that desire. The mind also follows desire in that it justifies the shifts of our priorities. 

The beautiful thing about making God’s priorities our own is that our mind only needs to be obedient — there is no justification needed. 

Jeremiah 6:16 has been deeply embedded in my heart as a call to the church for such a time as this. Hear the words of the Lord through the mouth of Jeremiah:

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Now is a time for us to use Jeremiah 6:16 to evaluate the desires of our hearts and align (or realign) them with Psalm 73:25. There are four powerful action words in this verse that I’d like to call to our attention. 

• Stand: Stop. Remain standing; ceased from walking, but not idle — attentive. 
• Look: Carefully pay attention to what is going on around you. Evaluate prayerfully.
• Ask: God wants us to ask for the ancient paths — the good way. He could tell us, but He wants us to desire it. He wants our desires aligned with His. 
• Walk: Having done all, now walk — live in the ways of God. 

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalms 73:25).

Lord Jesus, we come to You asking for a heart of flesh that is responsive to You and hungry and thirsty for You and Your ways. We confess that we have nothing but You, and therefore, earth has nothing we desire besides You. Let us exchange ministry success for pleading with heaven for a mighty move of Your Spirit in our churches and land. Ignite passion where the embers need to be fanned into flame. Let us thirst like the deer panting for streams of water and let us be satisfied in Your presence. 

May it be so. 

Amen. +