Whether I’m looking out my window or walking the length of our driveway, I love my view from home. And I love being here on the hill with my books and my very convenient kitchen. I love having eight grandchildren, and I especially love my husband and four sons (who are hilarious).
Even so, having said goodbye to two very close friends this year, I’m operating out of a heightened awareness that all these blessings are temporary. We might call them “earthly pleasures,” not because there’s anything wrong about them, but because they are firmly attached to planet Earth. Even the relationships I treasure will likely be different in God’s forever kingdom.
The Christian life is not a tightrope, so I don’t have to renounce all these much-loved pleasures to be right with God. Rather, because I have been declared right with God, I am looking for a way of thinking about loving the goodness and beauty of this world without making an idol of it.
Three sifting questions I’m asking myself to keep from falling in love with the present world and missing the blessings of eternity.
Tweet
Here are some sifting questions I’m asking myself to keep from falling in love with the present world and missing the blessings of eternity:
- Am I putting pleasure before people?
Paul got me started on this search with his melancholy roll call at the end of 2 Timothy. Among others, “Demas, in love with this present world, [had] deserted [him] and gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10).
What do I value most? There’s nothing wrong with a good book and a cup of tea in a quiet house, but if I continually choose my introverted preferences, I’m missing out on God’s best. When we risk being available, we sign up for inconvenience, and inconvenience stretches us in good (and needful) ways. - Am I putting pleasure before time with God?
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he warns his young friend “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” One of the many features of these perilous times is that “people will be… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4) There’s the warning again!
The Christian life is not an either/or tightrope in which God is good, and pleasure is bad. We are simply reminded to love the Giver more than his good gifts. - Do I look forward to Jesus’s return?
In the 21st century, it is easy to surround ourselves with so many distractions that we don’t have time to think deeply about anything. The present world is supremely satisfying, especially to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere who have access to running water and Wifi. We don’t lack anything that can be seen, so why would we long for the unseen?
Peter issues this challenge to our feeble priorities: “Though you have not seen [Jesus], you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
I pray that this is true of us! Let’s give thanks for all the pleasures of this present world, the blessings we enjoy every day. They are a lens, magnifying and bringing into focus the goodness and the greatness of our God.
The Christian life is not an either/or tightrope in which God is good, and pleasure is bad. We are simply reminded to love the Giver more than his good gifts.
Tweet
Holding You in the Light,
Have You Read the Latest Newsletter?
On the third Wednesday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where all the news lands first.
CLICK HERE to find me on Substack, where my goal is to help you on the path of becoming a confident follower of God and a student of His Word.
New for You on the Bible App!
This seven-day devotional plan affirms that perseverance is so much more than simply hanging on. Those who follow Jesus Christ are familiar with the dogged patience of waiting, because we have read the words of Scripture about eternal rewards for those who endure. So we persevere—sometimes just because God has commanded us to. When the newness wears off, when we don’t feel like it, when everything just feels too hard, we press on, and we press in to Christ. He is the prize.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, which means that whenever you purchase a book I’ve shared here through the link I provide, I’ll receive a very small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and I’ll receive a very small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and I only share books here that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Hi Michelle, Thanks for bringing the scriptural reminders to mind about not loving this world. In the book by CS Lewis, The great Divorce, I believe, he talks of heaven as a place so bright and wonderful that our world pales in comparison. Keith Green stated that if we think our world is so great it’s like living in a garbage can in comparison.
LikeLike
YES!!!
I love The Great Divorce, and the image that sticks in my mind is one of the “visitors” to heaven trying to walk on the grass of heaven and it was hurting his feet because it’s more “REAL” than grass on earth.
And Keith Green certainly had a firm grasp on the reality of heaven, didn’t he. I have loved his lyrics for a long time.
Thanks so much for bringing these thoughts to the conversation here.
LikeLike
This was such a powerful and helpful post, Michele! Thank you!
LikeLike
That’s so good to hear, Jerusha! Thanks for reading and for taking the time to say hi!
LikeLike
Loving the Giver more than the Gifts. Love that. Thankfulness every day for God letting us have the beauty of this Earth. The beauty in every little thing that is given; especially love the beautiful blue skies, and when the grass is at its best. So many gifts we are given that at times, I’m not sure of the deservedness of it. 🙂 The biggest gift of all, Jesus’ sacrifice. Happy Sunday.
LikeLike
Yes, we can certainly run out of fingers as we count the blessings of this present world and then begin to count the spiritual blessings we’ve received in Christ!
LikeLike
Good sifting questions! Always making me think ~ Rosie
LikeLike
Sifting and thinking with friends is the best!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a constant battle, isn’t it–being thankful for God’s good gifts but not letting them usurp His place. May we always love the Giver more than the gifts.
LikeLike
Agreeing with you in that final request.
Amen and Amen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Let’s give thanks for all the pleasures of this present world, the blessings we enjoy every day. They are a lens, magnifying and bringing into focus the goodness and the greatness of our God.” Amen!
This is how Thanks giving turns into Thanks-living Michele. 😊
Blessings, Jennifer
LikeLike
And Thanks-living is what we’re really designed for! Thanks for the great thought, Jennifer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Michele! 😊
LikeLike
I love this post. It is a balance that we think of more as we age, I think.
LikeLike
I would agree. Our values eventually grow up and become more aligned with reality as we age.
LikeLike
Great questions to ponder on!
LikeLike
Pondering is always more productive (and more fun!) in community. Thanks for being here.
LikeLike
You have a lovely knack for combing out issues with which I struggle. Yes, I know I need to declutter. Yes, I find great enjoyment in my books, and my tea and my recipes. You write: “The Christian life is not an either/or tightrope in which God is good, and pleasure is bad. We are simply reminded to love the Giver more than his good gifts.” These last six weeks as I’ve been sitting bedside in the hospital 24/7, I’ve had my knitting, a few books, and my bible about me. I could knit because I could pray. I couldn’t read a book–because it wasn’t the time for pleasure reading. Good gifts are nothing without Him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with BlueCottonMemory above. “Good gifts are nothing without Him.” I can’t imagine the emptiness of feeling grateful for the many blessings of life, but have no one to thank! You are spot-on, Michele: To love the Giver more than the gifts is the only satisfying way to live!
LikeLike
Beautiful post and reminder of how to keep things in this life in the right perspective. Visiting from Talking about it Tuesday.
LikeLike
Great to hear from you, Amy! Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment.
LikeLike
I’ve been blessed with a good life, so maybe it’s my age. Or maybe the changes in our world. But the things of this earth seem to grow “strangely dim” in light of the promise of heaven. Come Lord Jesus!
LikeLike
Yes, that’s my prayer as well!
LikeLike
Oh I love this, but it’s a much needed reminder that enjoying my present blessings can distract me from what God is calling me to if I’m not living in gratitude to the Giver of these gifts.
LikeLike
What a great way of saying it. And I have to wonder if some of the things I’ve asked God for and he has withheld are actually a sign of his mercifully protecting me from something that would get in the way of my appreciation for and dependence upon him.
LikeLike
So much to ponder here, Michele. Thank you for the reminder to “love the Giver more than his good gifts.”
LikeLike
Our idol-factory hearts…!
LikeLike