Good Things

Have you ever felt a tinge of guilt when enjoying the non-spiritual things of this world? Items you relish, indulgences you look forward to or the activities you simply find lots of happiness in doing. Ever feel guilty about enjoying them? I have.

Earlier this summer my family and I spent a few days away on a short vacation together. It was filled with incredible memories and many good things. Things like the taste of my favorite ice cream on a humid July evening. The thrill of a speeding roller coaster and the wind rushing through my hair as I zoomed down the track. The boom and awe of fireworks bursting in the sky over my head. Sweet watermelon and cool air conditioning. Laughter, fireflies, and the refreshment of the cold pool water on a hot summer day.  So many good things. In the past, I may have felt a little guilty for “wasting” these days, but this summer I simply enjoyed them and felt blessed.

Is my delight in things wrong?

Delight in the Lord has been the Reconciled World theme this year. It’s been a wonderful theme, and this topic and many of the conversations and thoughts that have sprung out of it have impacted me. However, I must admit, I am still not completely comfortable with my enjoyment of things. My finding delight in stuff. I know the awe-inspiring items of creation (mountains, sunsets, delicate flowers, etc.) point to God. They remind me of His power and magnificence. I don’t have a problem seeing God in those things and giving Him glory. What I still wrestle with, though, is the small things. The little indulgences and enjoyments. Sometimes I feel selfish and even guilty when I enjoy them. How do I rightly order my affection for good things? Is it wrong to savor a fresh brewed cup of coffee in the morning? Should I feel guilty about looking forward to watching a world cup soccer game on TV? Is my enjoyment of reading a good novel or cooking the perfect chicken biryani dish wrong? As a follower of Jesus what do I do with these affections?

Is my relationship with Jesus supposed to minimize my pleasure in good things? As I grow in spiritual maturity should I become less impressed with the stuff of this world, or can I be fully devoted to God and also be captivated by a fresh warm donut?

Confusing messages

Maybe you remember the hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.” It’s a beautiful hymn that says this:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.”

That thought, the one about the things of this earth growing strangely dim, is convicting.

I also read verses in the Bible like Colossians 3:2 that say: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Or Philippians 3:19 that says: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their gory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”

But then I am reminded of 1 Timothy 4:4 that states: “For everything that God created is good.” Or 1 Timothy 6:17 which tells me to “put my hope in God, who richly provides me with everything for my enjoyment.”

So which is it? I’m confused.

Can I love God wholeheartedly, love people sacrificially, and still have an affection for the beach?

In my wrestling here are some things I know to be true

1. God made me and called the things He made “good.” We know from the account in Genesis 1 that everything God made was called “good.” God is the one that made me with taste buds to enjoy fresh fruit and desserts. God is the one who made me to enjoy intimacy and beauty. God is the one who made me to appreciate sports and to enjoy the tone of music and the whisper of wind in the trees. God made them good, and He created me in such a way to enjoy them.

2. Idolatry is wrong. The Bible states it emphatically many times over. Idolatry is wrong. (Exodus 20:3; Leviticus 19:4; 1 Corinthians 10:14). I know that worshipping anything but God is wrong. I also know that the moment I replace God with “good things” I’m wrong as well.

If you are wondering if some of the good things you have might be creeping into the realm of idolatry ask yourself this:

• Is there anything in my life that consumes me more than it should?
• Will I get angry if I can’t do it or don’t get it?
• Do I value it over people?
• Does it push me closer to God or pull me farther from Him?
• If God took this from me, would I be angry with Him?

While the first two points are commonly understood I have come to learn that this third point is true as well. And here is where the crux of my understanding is beginning to take shape.

3. Indifference is wrong as well. It’s easy to enjoy the many good things that surround me in life. But the moment I miss God in them… the moment I fail to recognize God as their provider, I sin. My indifference or apathy to God in these things is my weakness. This is where I often fall short.

4. The good things in our life are there to reveal God to us. Romans 1:20 ends with this statement about God’s attributes “having been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” God’s attributes are seen in the good things He fills our lives with. The good things (everything He has made) are essentially a window into His goodness and greatness. God wants us to know Him and to recognize His love for us through the good things He provides. Through the majestic and the mundane, the extraordinary and the ordinary, He says, “Enjoy me!”

When I began to see all the good things that God has provided for me as gifts that point back to Him, it altered my thinking. The moments, experiences, and things are not for me to enjoy in selfishness and become consumed by, but to remind me of God. To enjoy Him in the good things and delight in His incredible creativity, affection, and love—that’s what I can’t miss. Which leads me to the final thought, which is:

5. Gratitude is the key. Our command isn’t to enjoy less but to thank more. 1 Timothy 4:4 reminds us of this: “Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” Giving thanks is how we honor God. “Thank you God” should be on our lips all day long!

As I have wrestled through this topic, I have come to believe that God delights in me when I delight in His provision. It gives Him the glory He is due.

Putting our affections in the right place

So the next time you enjoy a warm cup of chai on a rainy day, don’t feel guilty for enjoying it. Instead use it as a moment to worship our good God. May we allow our gratitude for the good things to increase our affection for our good God.

If your life is surrounded by good things take a moment to consider what God might be saying to you. Maybe He just wants you to know: “I’m here! And I know you personally. Enjoy Me. Find life in Me. Tilt your affections towards me!” When you do, take delight in the Lord as He delights in you and give Him thanks.

Special thanks to friend Stephen Kirk, pastor of Hope Church in Mason, OH. Much of this content and reflection came from a recent sermon of his titled “Good Things”