{"id":344,"date":"2018-08-08T08:35:33","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T13:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/?p=344"},"modified":"2018-08-08T08:35:33","modified_gmt":"2018-08-08T13:35:33","slug":"good-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/good-things\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0So many good things. In the past, I may have felt a little guilty for \u201cwasting\u201d these days, but this summer I simply enjoyed them and felt blessed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Is my delight in things wrong?<\/h3>\n

Delight in the Lord has been the Reconciled World theme this year. It\u2019s 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 <\/span>things<\/span><\/i>. 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\u2019t 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?<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/p>\n

Confusing messages<\/h3>\n

Maybe you remember the hymn \u201cTurn your eyes upon Jesus.\u201d It\u2019s a beautiful hymn that says this:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTurn your eyes upon Jesus,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Look full in His wonderful face,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

In the light of His glory and grace.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

That thought, the one about the things of this earth growing strangely dim, is convicting. <\/span><\/p>\n

I also read verses in the Bible like Colossians 3:2 that say: <\/span>\u201cSet your minds on things above, not on earthly things.\u201d <\/span><\/i>Or Philippians 3:19 that says: <\/span>\u201cTheir destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their gory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.<\/span><\/i>\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

But then I am reminded of 1 Timothy 4:4 that states: <\/span>\u201cFor everything that God created is good.\u201d<\/span><\/i> Or 1 Timothy 6:17 which tells me to <\/span>\u201cput my hope in God, who richly provides me with everything for my enjoyment.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

So which is it? I\u2019m confused. <\/span><\/p>\n

Can I love God wholeheartedly, love people sacrificially, and still have an affection for the beach?<\/span><\/p>\n

In my wrestling here are some things I know to be true<\/span><\/p>\n

1. God made me and called the things He made \u201cgood.\u201d<\/b> We know from the account in Genesis 1 that everything God made was called \u201cgood.\u201d 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Idolatry is wrong<\/b>. 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 \u201cgood things\u201d I\u2019m wrong as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are wondering if some of the good things you have might be creeping into the realm of idolatry ask yourself this: <\/span><\/p>\n