Everything for Enjoyment

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"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out if it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that..." (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Hmmm, it seems we use verses like this quite often to communicate that Christian spirituality is all about simplicity...all about just getting by...all about "denying ourselves". True, this IS one side of the coin, but if we read on in this very chapter in 1 Timothy, we see that God, "richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (verse 17).

In addition to Jesus' instruction to deny ourselves (Matthew 16:24), He also said that He came to give us "life to the full" (John 10:10). To focus solely on either facet of Jesus' teaching without consideration of the other will most likely result in an incomplete view of what a life with Jesus is about. It is intended to be exciting and passionate, while full of mystery and adventure...not mundane and boring!

A more in depth study of the paradox between "life to the full" and "deny yourself" takes us down a long and winding road, full of suprises around many turns, and requires patience and diligence but with great reward!! (hmmm...) There it is, there's the path. A great road to take if you so choose...