Is it OK to love life?

Godlovesmetwo said:

He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

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I should think so. 'If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts , unto your children, how much more shall your Father which. is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?' Mat 7 Doesn't that sound more like a parent child relationship than Him wanting us to be miserable because He is mad at us?

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

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The glory of God gives life; those who see God receive life. For this reason God, who cannot be grasped, comprehended or seen, allows himself to be seen, comprehended and grasped by men, that he may give life to those who see and receive him. It is impossible to live without life, and the actualization of life comes from participation in God, while participation in God is to see God and enjoy his goodness. (Irenaeus)

Or in my case....is it okay to hate it?

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

Click to expand...

I believe two scriptures are relevant and in both cases it boils down to intent and inner motivation, which I could not know.

The first is 2 Timothy 3:4, lovers of pleasure, when push comes to shove if everything was taken from Cedric, would he have a problem with God?

The second scripture is very similar, Mark 10:21. If Cedric would be able to give up his lifestyle and still be able to live life to the full?

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

Click to expand...

Technically he is useless apart from the tithing thing maybe his tithe will be use for something meaningful or for some greedy pastor/priest pocket and will do nothing good at all.

What could he do is spread gospel to unbelievers while he is on vacations at least , since he couldn't do that at his Job to keep the Job most likelly would be fired for doing so.

I think God’s plans and purposes differ for everyone. He distributes gifts and talents as He chooses and stations us in different places. No one can control their beginning.

If He saw fit to put me in a favorable position and provided me with the tools to serve Him and prosper while doing so, why would bemoan that?

I embrace everything He’s given and His plan. I don’t believe suffering in itself yields greater faith or a closer relationship with God.

It’s what you do in the midst of your suffering and plenty that tells the story. You’ll find misery and joy in both examples.

~Bella

Norbert L said:

The second scripture is very similar, Mark 10:21. If Cedric would be able to give up his lifestyle and still be able to live life to the full?

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Agree.

And take up what lifestyle instead?

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

Click to expand...

Does Cedric help others besides his family? Aside from his tithe, does he give to the poor, or spend it all on fun for himself and family? Does he spend any time tending to his fathers affairs/doing Gods work?

And it also depends on what you mean by "not deeply committed"

I've no good reason to be one to talk, but since you did ask for opinions, it doesn't sound to me like he is truly committed to Christ. And because none of those things he does seem wrong in themselves, I suppose I'm seeing some type of big picture here that makes me think he's living more for himself than he is for God.

If I knew Cedric, it's possible my ideas of him would change one way or another.

Kenny'sID said:

Agree.

And take up what lifestyle instead?



Does Cedric help others besides his family? Aside from his tithe, does he give to the poor, or spend it all on fun for himself and family? Does he spend any time tending to his fathers affairs/doing Gods work?

And it also depends on what you mean by "not deeply committed"

I've no good reason to be one to talk, but since you did ask for opinions, it doesn't sound to me like he is truly committed to Christ. And because none of those things he does seem wrong in themselves, I suppose I'm seeing some type of big picture here that makes me think he's living more for himself than he is for God.

If I knew Cedric, it's possible my ideas of him would change one way or another.

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Given the broad generalities of the scenario, I think what you're saying is over analyzing it. Of course there will be exceptions to the rule.

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

Click to expand...

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

So to do a litmus test I ask myself these questions

1. What do I spend most of my free money on??? show me a mans check book and I will show you his heart

2. Thoughts, what are your thoughts all day on God or on this world??

3. Time what is I spend most of my time on??? learning of God and spreading the gospel or on things that matter not for eternity

Nothing wrong with enjoying things, but God is the creator of all things he is to worshiped, not the things he has created.


Jesus says he will spit Luke warm Christians out of his mouth

Its seems your freinds happiness relies on circumstances, true joy is in Jesus Christ giving us salvation, and circumstances have not effect on it

Godlovesmetwo said:

Here's an example:
Cedric is happily married with 2 kids. has a secure well paid job. Goes to Church ,pays his tithe.
Not a deeply committed Christian but still ….
Cycling and kite surfing are his passions. He is a good family man and takes his family on vacations to Hawaii or Vanuatu. He lives life to the full and also finds time to write historical novels.
So he is living life to the full? isn't that what God wants him to do? He is very happy and so are his wife and kids..... doesn't God want Him to be happy in this life?

Click to expand...

Okay... so I'm disabled and I came to this faith disabled.

That said, I think God has given me an abundance of peace and joy, in this life since I've been saved, as much as can be reasonably expected given my life circumstances.

If I was healthy I would volunteer more at church for the various events they have, so I would be more service oriented. If I was wealthier I would give more to support the church and the various outreach programs they have, as well as help more people around me.

That wouldn't mean that I wouldn't enjoy life, or think taking the occasional vacation is wrong in any way..

However, is this person you note living for God, or for himself? It sounds like a "me" oriented life instead of a Christ oriented life, described in this way. As a Christian Christ is our example, and every step we take, we take with Christ alongside, putting our relationship with Him before our own desires, and living a life that is being the light of Christ to the world.

Is this person you describe praying daily, searching the word daily, teaching his children a God centered life? Or are they all just living in worldly land...

As Jesus said, you cannot have two masters. There's nothing wrong with being happy - God gives to us abundantly - but we must always ask if we are living for Him, and giving Him the primacy over our lives or if we are just living for ourselves and giving Christ the backseat, only bringing Him into it when it benefits us in some way.

It's a question we all must periodically ask ourselves, regardless of our wealth or lack of it.

Godlovesmetwo said:

Like a lot of us he is a mediocre Christian. Hes not evil. Hes just not very good.

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So he's a pew sitter...

'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:14-22

Also:

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world" 1 John 2:15-16

And:

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Romans 12:1

Sums it up. By the world's standard this is a great guy, but God's standards are different than the worlds. "My ways are not your ways". It's not about "suffering" though, it's about giving God primacy over your life, after your saved. That's not suffering to any but the world.