Collect Things You Can Keep
Aug 18
Phelps! Michael Phelps Buying cialis to be exact. But I Tamoxifen 20mg - 90 pills am sure Ethionamide 250mg - 20 pills you don’ t need Clomid 100mg - 30 pills me to tell you that. He is only the biggest news to come out of the Olympics this year. Eight gold medals in one Olympics! What a feat! Everyone is talking about his athletic ability, how his body makes for a great swimmer, and, of course, his eight medals. Commentators and fans alike will be talking about his accomplishments at the 2008 Olympics for years to come.
This started me thinking. All of the things that make Phelps a great swimmer will matter absolutely nothing when he stands before God someday. That is a weird thought to me even though I know it is truth. We pay so much attention to these kind of achievements and yet they will mean nothing. We will not be able to stand before a holy God and say, “Look at my gold medals, God. I set multiple world records in your name. And I did it all while competing for a ‘Christian’ nation.” That won’t fly.
Most people wouldn’t be able to say those things but there are things that we expend our efforts on, things that we collect that will mean the same to God, nothing. I know that I spend time on things that satisfy me here but have no eternal fruit. Things that I cannot take with me. My focus should be on the things of eternal value. Things that further God’s kingdom. Collect the things you can keep, not the things that will matter nothing in eternity.
To be completely honest I am a little torn. As I write this I think of some of the things I do that might not be up to the standard I just set for myself. Some of the things I enjoy most are very (seemingly) self-centered things. For example, I enjoy playing video games that usually only involve me. Unless it is feeding my spirit and encouraging me on to pursue Christ more is it a waste of my time? One of the other joys I have that fits into this line of thinking is reading. I really enjoy books that tell a great story and take me away to another place. If this is not helping prepare me to speak to others about Christ then is it worth my time? Is there a line? If so where do you draw it?
I would greatly appreciate some feedback here so please comment. What do you think?
Brian
Hmm….
I tend Actoplus met coupon to be Ampicillin 500mg - 90 pills skeptical of Buy Cardura Online the utilitarian Prometrium 200mg - 90 pills perspective of a lot of similar protestant rhetoric. Yes, Jesus called the Christian to a life of continual edifying engagement with the world–preaching the gospel, caring for widows and orphans, giving one’s money to the poor, &c. But if you look at the accounts of Jesus’ life, one thing stands out that is not externally utilitarian–his time spent away from the crowds who sought to hear his every word, praying to God while communing with nature. (Actually, many things stand out that don’t seem particularly utilitarian, but this one in particular.)
The point is not, I think, that Jesus spent that time away merely to recharge as a means to more effectively and energetically teach. The point is, I think, that Jesus wanted to surround himself with beauty and solitude while seeking his Heavenly Father in prayer. And when he did that, he gained the ability to more effectively minister, because he was more closely in communion with God.
One of the prime points of arts and entertainment is to point to realities–realities of the people around us, and realities of the eternity God has placed in the heart of humanity. Video games can do that, as well as paintings or books or a starry night sky. I think the main thing is to prioritize people over art, and God over people. In their proper place, well-crafted things of beauty glorify God–even if they’re just light, pleasant comedies or intriguing-but-insubstantial video games. Out of their place, they take the place of better things and turn our hearts away from God.
Where is the line between appreciation and self-indulgence? That’s a harder question. Tolkien’s magnificent short-story “Leaf by Niggle” tells of a painter forever driven to capture a leaf on canvas–and constantly guilt-wracked at the time and resources spent that could be better used loving his neighbor. From what I’ve read by and about Tolkien, it seems he was like Niggle and never really felt certain that his time alone perfecting the legends of Middle-Earth were “useful” or “worthwhile” in the eternal scheme of things. I don’t think he ever ceased to feel “a little torn,” even as he imagined that his story, like Niggle’s leaf, could be used by God as a path leading some to “the Mountains,” and thence to Heaven. Others seem to have an innate sense of balance, just as easily able to revel in individual gifts of God as they are able to sacrifice those gifts in response to a specific felt need.
Paul wrote “‘Everything is permissible’–but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’–but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” But it’s interesting where he takes the line of reasoning–one shouldn’t pierce another’s conscience by eating food that someone else sees as evil, yet “Why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
It’s a hard and complicated passage to parse rationally, but I take this from it–we should not subject ourselves to the false imprisonment of legalism (“playing single-player video games is wrong”), and do all things to the glory of God. Yet even as we do so, we should not forget the self-sacrificial nature of the Christian life.
So I’d put it this way: Reading Mistborn or playing Mass Effect is not wrong, if we do so out of a spirit of thankfulness to the “giver of all good gifts.” If we quit doing such things in order to better serve God–and as long as we give these things up “willingly, with a full heart”–then that’s not a bad thing either, and in fact is a better thing and more worthy of honor.
But it’s been my bitter experience that the worst of all worlds is to be lukewarm–to prohibit oneself comforts not because they are wrong, but out of a vague and dreary sense that I should be doing something “more productive.” That path, as far as I can tell, leads to a place of neither joy nor effective service.
Well…bet you didn’t expect anyone to ramble on THAT long. I may re-post this to my blog later, but for now you have my 10c (plus lots and lots of inflation.)
Hey brother!
. I know Minocin side effects that if Pravachol 20 mg I get Celexa 40mg - 90 pills that down-time I need, then it Lotensin 10 mg refreshes me. Keeps me from getting run down or burned out. I heard this Jim Elliot quote once, “Wherever you are, be all there.” Even in resting or down time, we should be all there, if that makes sense, not worrying fruitlessly that we should be doing something else. Most of all, though, I know if you’re walking close to the Lord and listening and praying for wisdom, He’ll let you know when you’re crossing the line of indulgence or selfishness. And beware of what culture or even “Christian” culture tells you is indulgence or not…I think it can breed a self-righteousness and legalistic mindset.
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I pretty Coumadin vitamin k much agree Buy Avalide Online with the Levitra 10mg - 180 pills first comment. In my Diovan 40 mg own life, I’ve come to realize that I’m a person who requires some down/alone/rest time during the day (if possible). I used to struggle with this, because I felt like if I wasn’t doing anything productive every moment of the day then I wasn’t living passionately enough. I think this view was held by alot of my friends, so it was like a comparrison thing too–kind of a “who can be the most spiritual every second of the day” thing. Comparrison can drive people to act more passionate or spiritual, but I don’t think that’s a good motive (even though I think the Lord can still use their acts). Now that I’ve just learned to accept that I have needs (like rest) that not everyone else has (just like I have gifts that not everyone else has), it’s very freeing. That’s probably something you learned a long time ago, that people are different and that’s okay, but I’m just getting past that
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Love you!! Caroline
Thank you Risperdal 3mg - 30 pills both for Accutane 40mg - 90 pills your very Cordarone 200 mg thoughtful and Mexitil 150mg - 60 pills encouraging comments. I have no idea why this came back to me like this. I have dealt with it before and came to the same conclusions as you present. I think by blog post took a wrong turn.
I am pretty sure the point I was trying to make is that we can have all of the world renowned accomplishments (or little ones) we want but apart from Christ they have no eternal value.
It’s weird how you can try to write paragraphs about something and get lost when it can be said in one sentence.
Hey, Brian!
I’ m not Deltasone 10mg - 90 pills allowing myself Buy Atorlip Blopress 4mg - 60 pills 5 Online to read the “so-far” responses, because I Prometrium 200mg - 90 pills have one…..but no time to type it out at the moment, and I don’t want to be influenced by what others have said! Call me…..or wait until school “settles in.”
Love you!