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Any single thing is pretty vague. If you're talking about pre-marital/extra-marital sex, drugs, black magic, vanity, ect. then ya I think so. But if you're talking about outdoor activities, wholesome movies, going out to eat, amusement parks, swimming, uplifting music, ect. then absolutely not. You need to be specific in what activity you are talking about.
It means as believers we should have Heavenly aspirations and not be drawn to the things of the world. When we have our eyes on worldly things we are not focused in the Lord. We need to put put Him first in life.
We can enjoy the world and all that God has given us as far as nature and blue skies and appreciate all of His beauty that He has provided,but we should not be drawn to the worldly influences that can be idolized more important than God or leaving God completely out of the picture and trusting completely in ourselves ,our money,our jobs and other material things..
I agree that we can enjoy the things of this life...as long as we don't put such things first...above the Lord's interests for us.
I once had a real struggle surrendering my love of camping to the Lord. I came to a point in my life of seeing that the Lord wanted to have first place in my heart. That if I was to go camping in the future it was going to have to be with a view to having it fit into seeking His kingdom first in my life. That I could no longer just go camping any time I wanted for just the benefit of my own self. Only for myself. At my own beck and call. He was Lord of my life and deserved to call the shots as to where I would go and what I would do.
Now mind you...though it was a very tough decision for me to surrender my love of camping to Him...He is a good Lord. One worthy of being followed with our whole hearts. If He asks us to die to our selfish desires in something it is only because He wants what is truly best for us.
We cannot cling to our life and follow Him at the same time. We cannot serve two masters. Either we serve Him and follow Him or follow ourselves, make up our own minds about things, and go our own way in life. We cannot do both.
It's hard...I know...but on the other side of such death there is true relationship with the Lord. Looking back...nothing I have ever surrendered to Him in has ever caused me regret! I cannot even recall missing something I surrendered to Him in view of the surpassing greatness of the more intimate relationship with Him that I gained and experienced afterwards.
Nice post carlos!
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As for the original post, I think everyone goes through a period of time in their life when they are juggling the things of this world that please the flesh against a spiritual life that they are yet to grow into. It is growing in the spiritual life which is not only eternal and tremendous....but to actually commune with the God of the Universe that makes it such a desirable deal and far over shadows the temporal things of this short journey on earth before we begin our eternity.
If we do not enjoy the 'pleasures' of this world are we really going to regret in it the hereafter? Think about it.....
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