Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to review a book entitled, “The Greener Grass Conspiracy,” by Stephen Altrogge. Not knowing what to expect, I was shocked at how deeply rooted I am personally in the conspiracy. The “conspiracy” is that we as Christians are so blessed in light of the gospel but yet so unhappy with what life has given us.
Stephen takes an honest look at idolatry, discontentment, complaining, and other issues that frequently steal our happiness and blind us of the many blessing we have in Christ. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is trapped, looking for the next big thing in life to find satisfaction, joy, and happiness that can only be found in Christ alone.
Here are a few of my highlighted portions of the book:
1. “I’m unhappy because this is my world and these kinds of things should’t happen in my world. I don’t actually speak those words, but every day I’m tempted to believe them, live by them, and treat others according to them.”
2. “Discontentment happens when I attempt to displace God from his rightful place at the center of the universe.”
3. “Contentment is a disposition of the heart that freely and joyfully submits to God’s will, what that will may be.”
4. “It’s as if we have a baseball-sized diamond in one hand and a mud-encrusted rock in the other, and we are forced to choose between the two. We spend several minutes studying both the diamond and the rock, holding each up to the lights for closer examination. Then, shockingly, we toss the diamond aside. Idolatry is tossing aside God for a mud-spattered rock.”
5. “In Christ we can be truly content while on this earth, but we’ll never be fully satisfied. The day of total, complete, and ultimate satisfaction is still coming. The day we see Jesus Christ face-to-face and look into the eyes of our Savior, we’ll say, “Now I’m truly satisfied.”"
Special thanks to Crossway Books!
