Balance
Well, I was going to ask "Where does one find the balance between sharing all things (Acts 4:32) and simply enjoying what God has blessed you with?", but when I did a quick search for scripture relating to finding joy in what God has blessed you with, I couldn't find anything that said what I wanted.
So, can someone point me to scripture that validates the idea that I should do things or buy things that only benefit me; The idea that I should be okay with spending time or resources on something that brings only me pleasure?
Labels: questions
posted by Shannon Smith @ 3/15/2007
9 Comments
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9 Comments:
James 1:4 states, "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
James 1:5-6 advises us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting."
Proverbs 13:22 declares, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."
I found these verses on a website about financial stewardship. If I was cool like you internet geniuses, I would include the URL addy. But I am not that cool. Surprising, I know.
I don't see how those say that it is cool for me to do things just for me. Can you explain what you were trying to say?
Check out the second half of Matthew 6. It's from the sermon on the mount and Christ talks at length about God's provisions for us. I'm not sure that speaks directly to what you're looking for, but it does talk about God providing for us.
Also if you read in proverbs 31 (I think, I don't have a good book in front of me) the second half is subtitled the wife of noble character. In it there is reference to her clothing her family in purples and fine linens which would be considered unnecessary and finery. Again, not directly answering your question, but things to consider/look at.
I'll look later tonight and see if I see any others.
The last line of the first verse stuck out to me... "lacking nothing." Maybe it's talking more about spiritual matters and not lacking financially but, to me, that says that we are to enjoy all that God has blessed us with. In the second verse, we are told that when we ask for things in faith, it will be given to us... I don't think God gives us things he doesn't want us to have. And the third verse reminds me that we are to provide for our families for generations to come.
I guess they all make me think that God wants to bless us with "stuff" and I think it goes without saying that it's for both our own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others. I don't think that God intends for us to use his blessings only for the benefit of others, since he came so that we could live life more abundantly (James 10:10).
Sorry... in the last line of my post, the verse is from John 10:10, not James 10:10. My bad.
I don't think I can look at "lacking nothing" as meaning having everything. I take it to mean that you will have everything you need, not that you will live like rock stars.
Same thing with the end of Matthew 6. Jesus says, "don't worry, God takes care of the birds and fields. He'll take care of you, too." But, I'm not sure that means we will get everything we want.
Do you think abundant life means being on cribs?
Daniel mentioned something about Samuel. Maybe there is something in there about living in the excess of God's blessings.
hey Shannon, i've thought about this question alot and I have some to believe that God has told me I am asking the wrong question.
The question or even RIGHT that most of us have come to expect along goes hand in hand with the right to the 'pursuit of happiness.' (What looks like 'good' often lures us in to keep us from us what is 'best')
I think this Americanized, individualist thinking is very different from the JOY and 'life abundant' that God has for us. Maybe the question should be
...How does my preoccupation with stuff and my own need for comfort etc. keep me from enjoying the life abundant that God has for me?
(For instance, I am trying to break myself of the habit of watching 'junk 'TV. I can not do this very well by myself.I see and know and feel the junkiness of it but i often go right back to the habit)(lately i see how The Holy Spirit IS changing me- but I have to be obedient before my feelings follow i think!!)
I believe that there is truth in what Kim says.. it's not the stuff itself or the enjoyment of it that is sinful. God put much in his creation that I think we are meant to delight in by ourselves or with others... and some things that ARE meant for only us... but when we begin to make idols of those things.. (and i KNOW I have done so and still do)
I don't think God wants us to be 'comfortable' with that or comfortable in our selfish pursuit of stuff. I think we are so used to overabundance that it has dulled our senses and our minds and stripped us of the ability to ENJOY to the fullest what God has for us. Mother Teresa once commented that she sees way more 'poverty' in affluent America than in the slums of Calcutta.My recent prayer has been... God, Make those activities and spending habits of mine that are not in your will or intention for me to be like dirty rags.... Don't let me fool myself by gorging on superficial thrills that keep me hooked and always looking for the next 'cheap high' through spending or whatever else... But Lord, the activities and things that You have for me to enjoy... help me to enjoy them to the fullest. Make me aware of the blessing it is to waer fresh smelling clothing and live in a warm house and sleep in a comfortable bed with silky sheets...and give me a heart so full of love and gratitude that it spils over to caring and action so that others who don't have them may experience the same blessings."
There's more to my prayer and i ad to it all the time. I believe God has opened my eyes to much.. but I have rationalized and allowed myself to live selfishly on a material level for a long time and I think I have missed out on many blessings and the joy of being a blessing to others because of it. I don't want to miss out on any more!!
God has provided so abundantly for us in creation and in our friendships... knowing just what we need. He has given us the ability to make and emjoy beautiful music and art.I know he wants us to provide abundantly for our families... i just think our idea of what that means has kept us from experiencing the realtional abundance he has for us.
I am excited that you and Kim will join us this week end. If you'd like we can let you sleep in the garage. (ha ha)
I love that you are struggling with this question at your age and stage. it would be so much more 'pleasant' not to. I can't wait to see what god does with it.
sincerely, vicki paxton
Traci's mom rocks.
Vicki... as usual, you are a breath of fresh air to me. I know that God hears your prayers. And I know that God has placed us in America for a reason and that we should be able to enjoy all that comes along with the "American dream." I also think that we should not ignore others around the world who are less fortunate than we are.
I'm glad that we can ask the difficult questions. I'm thankful for community. I, like, Vicki, am thankful for warm beds to sleep in, clean clothes to wear, food to eat, etc. However, I will defer to Shannon about whether or not to sleep in the garage this weekend while in Roanoke...haha... :)
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