“…how is it possible for a creature to desire and enjoy the creation without committing idolatry? This may seem like an irrelevant question to some. But for people who long to sing like the psalmists, it is very relevant. They sing like this:
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73: 25– 26)One thing have I asked of the LORD
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
(Psalm 27: 4)
…If your heart longs to be this focused on God, then how to desire and enjoy “things” without becoming an idolater is a crucial question.
How can prayer glorify God if it is a prayer for things? It seems to glorify things.”
John Piper
Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
[CLICK HERE to see a listing of all the blog posts in this series “the search for Joy.”]
To desire things and to enjoy things have to be separate. If desire implies that you are not content without it, I would think it sinful. Desire can be a pretty strong word. To enjoy things that God has given us is His gift to us. To enjoy things more than to enjoy our relationship with Him….entirely different beast. Love the idea “how can prayer glorify God if it is a prayer for things…..”.
“If desire implies that you are not content without it, I would think it sinful.”
and there it is.