It is quite convicting to see people who aren't Christians making the most out of life much more than I am. In a sense they may be worldly, but the passion and enjoyment they seek, if geared towards God, how wonderful that would be. I don't know if Christians even enjoy the gifts of God as much as others do! God didn't give us gifts in this world for us to ignore, but to enjoy in light of Him that He may be glorified. Yes, there is a balance of not making things into idols and also remembering that this world is not our home. To live is Christ and to die is gain. It's a win-win situation, but I often make this life into a lose-lose situation - complaining about life, being bored, settling for little things... but also not storing treasures in heaven, delighting in the Lord in light of the eternal life He's given.
"When we live with a poverty identity, the problem is not that we ask too much of the Father, but that we settle for too little. We settle for hammering together some kind of spiritual survival with the hope that things will be better in eternity. But the bible never presents our life on earth as a meaningless time of waiting for the good stuff that comes later. The biblical model of waiting is not simply about what you will get at the end of your wait, but about who you will become as you wait. God has promised you real, abundant life in here and now. We have a Father. We have a home. We are rich. We struggle a great deal, but we can expect much as well."
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp
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