How come unbelievers seem to enjoy their life more than believers?
- Thread starter Juk
- Start date
It's true.
I think he does that continually, but like kids, they can be fickle. I am sure if he really desires to please God with his life, the Lord will place a joy in him for a pastime of His choosing.
I do want to please God with my life. I understand that that is the only way to true joy (or I am wrong).
Juk, do you recognize the difference between the joy of the moment and the joy of a lifetime?
The joy of a moment is like when you score a winning goal for your team, or like a ride you really enjoy at an amusement park. Nothing wrong with either of them, and you need times like that in your life. It is pleasing to God that you experience this kind of joy, and that it is part of your make-up. But that kind of joy should not be the main goal of your life.
To illustrate the other, I will use something that is maybe in your future: My sons are a source of great joy for me. Whether I am with them, or just thinking about them, I have a wonderful feeling of joy. I believe that being a Christian greatly enhances this kind of joy. It isn't the joy of the moment, since there are times when the moment does not feel joyful, but my love for them still fills my heart with joy that I am part of their life. Christ's love for me enables me to love them better.
It is the second kind of joy that empowers the christian to overcome the disappointments and continue to be joyful and to not envy those that give their lives over to the first kind of joy.
The joy of a moment is like when you score a winning goal for your team, or like a ride you really enjoy at an amusement park. Nothing wrong with either of them, and you need times like that in your life. It is pleasing to God that you experience this kind of joy, and that it is part of your make-up. But that kind of joy should not be the main goal of your life.
To illustrate the other, I will use something that is maybe in your future: My sons are a source of great joy for me. Whether I am with them, or just thinking about them, I have a wonderful feeling of joy. I believe that being a Christian greatly enhances this kind of joy. It isn't the joy of the moment, since there are times when the moment does not feel joyful, but my love for them still fills my heart with joy that I am part of their life. Christ's love for me enables me to love them better.
It is the second kind of joy that empowers the christian to overcome the disappointments and continue to be joyful and to not envy those that give their lives over to the first kind of joy.
Great analogies. The first type of joy sounds like hedonism to me, and hedonism is a very vain way of life.
I'm an introvert too and I know it can make some things more difficult. My own response to coping with social situations in my late teens was to use alcohol to set myself at ease and loosen my tongue but I'm sure you (unlike I was at the time) are wise enough to know that is about as stupid an approach to the problem as you'll get. I think one just needs to keep trying without "props" and build up in confidence that way but I'm a fine one to be handing out advice...
I'm not really sure whether I make good conversation or not. My other interests include "projects" (maybe a bit of computer programming, maybe trying to make something, something like working out how we could use rainwater to water our veg plot, etc. - I like a small "challenge" that I believe is in my limited capabilities of solving), folk music (mostly jigs and reels, and I can to some degree or other play the DGAE frets [eg. mandoolin], guitar and melodeon), sometimes taking pictures, growing some things (I do the "salad side, tomatoes, etc. at home), the wildlife in our garden. I enjoy the easier types of cryptic crosswords... Plenty to be doing when I'm able and in the right mood but I'm not sure I do much talking about it with other people in the real world. So often I just seem to get stuck on the Internet and (in part for other reasons - I really have difficulty going anywhere where there are other people on my own these days) and I rarely get out.
That's a lot of interests. My interests right now are really just reading the Bible and physical activities (which I don't do much though). I really like to lift heavy things.
I must admit, lifting has never been one of my interests. I have enjoyed sports though. Never good at any (although I did play in goal for my school in primary school and in the first year of secondary school at soccer) but used to enjoy trying to participate in a couple. A lot these days is just "passing interest" but I still follow some soccer (I do still keep an eye on Norwich City and I enjoyed the last world cup), I sometimes enjoy the Six Nations Rugby Union and often keep an eye (I wish it was still on free to view UK tv) international (tests and the one day) cricket.
Sinners love their sin my little brother.
I used to think that throwing up after a night out drinking was fun. I just did not know what the meaning of fun was.
FUN! Am I happy and having fun??? YES ! Now that I know what fun is.
Example: right now it is Friday morning and 3 of my grandchildren are here and I am cooking them breakfast.
Then in an hour or so we are going to the movies to see the new Jurassic World movie. They are all excited and talking and laughing and being kids and have included ME!!!!!
Now that is fun!
Sounds good. We've never been that sort of family and I have no kids of my own. Family is one that will pull together in times of trouble but not usually that close. I do sort of follow form a distance some of what my pair of nephews and nieces do when they visit/one brother writes but that's about it. You read that one niece recently came 7th in a whole Australia climbing contest (following in her father's footsteps - he was easily top 10 in the UK once). You learn of another in college and at one time a goth... You in some senses are just around in the unlikely event they did want someone different (and on this, I hope non judgemental) to talk to.
What in the universe compares to liaising directly with God of the universe?
You have not yet fully grasped what privilege we have.
What we need to do is lose ourselves to Him and then we find ourselves in His plan for our lives. When we do what He wants us to do, nothing can be more fulfilling and rewarding! Albeit something that to others may appear to be boring and uneventful...like for arguments sake changing light bulbs at an old age home.
I enjoy my life more than any other non believer, as Christians should.
I still do things that the world does, I still fish, hunt, hike, and enjoy things that the world does. We are not called to stop doing everything that is fun, but our overall desires should change.
Instead of arguing with other fishermen about who got to the salmon hole first, I use it as an opportunity to get to know them
Instead of hiking alone, I'll bring a young man who may need to talk.
If I'm playing a sport, I'll congratulate the other team, even if they cheat.
Its not that I changed my hobbies, its that I changed the way I look at them. They become ministering opportunities to people, not just purely recreation.
It's easy to look at a non believer on the outside and think that they have joy, but they do not. Joy is found in the believer who lost his father and mother on the same day, yet still praises God. Joy is found in the man who was diagnosed with cancer and still wants to serve his church body. Joy is found in the hard times, not the easy times.
I still do things that the world does, I still fish, hunt, hike, and enjoy things that the world does. We are not called to stop doing everything that is fun, but our overall desires should change.
Instead of arguing with other fishermen about who got to the salmon hole first, I use it as an opportunity to get to know them
Instead of hiking alone, I'll bring a young man who may need to talk.
If I'm playing a sport, I'll congratulate the other team, even if they cheat.
Its not that I changed my hobbies, its that I changed the way I look at them. They become ministering opportunities to people, not just purely recreation.
It's easy to look at a non believer on the outside and think that they have joy, but they do not. Joy is found in the believer who lost his father and mother on the same day, yet still praises God. Joy is found in the man who was diagnosed with cancer and still wants to serve his church body. Joy is found in the hard times, not the easy times.
Amen.
Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Those are who living worldly lives are receiving their temporary (fleshly) rewards here on earth. Notice I said temporary. They indulge in all sorts of worldly and fleshly things that 'feel' good to them. The real battle begins when we become saved. Satan will try and reclaim what he thinks is still his. We are called to endure this fight, not give in. Usually when you see a fellow brother or sister in a seemly uncomfortable state, they are more than likely enduring a trial set up by God. We should pray for them. If you are also going through a trial, let us know, we will pray for you.