Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Sorry I missed the last couple of day ...:blush: been busy with family stuff and hospital visits ... hopefully ya'll will forgive ... :giverose:

The text for today comes from 1 John 2:17 ...

''The world is passing away and
so is it's desire, but he that does
the will of God remains forever.

Watchtower comments ...

''As Christians, we allow our love for God and neighbor to motivate us to share in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work. In so doing, we please Jehovah God, ''whose desire it is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.'' (I Tim. 2:3,4) Really, to help others to come to know God is the most precious gift we can give them. Those who accept Jehovah's friendship can enjoy it throughout eternity. We live in a world where material things are greatly valued, even loved. Yet, material things are not everlasting. They can be stolen or consumed by decay. (Matt. 6:19) On the other hand, Jehovah will remain forever, and so will those who love and serve him. Consequently, does it not make more sense to cultivate love for God and for people than it does to pursue the things of the world.'' w8/15/05 16,17b

My comments ...:giverose:

What exactly might the 'desire of the world' be that is 'passing away' ...

The Greek word used for 'desire' or 'lust' is epithumia and has the meaning of ...

a longing (especially for what is forbidden) concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

New word for today that I had to look up in the dictionary for the meaning is 'concupiscence' ... ;):read:

1. Sexual desire, lust. 2. Any immoderate desire

Immoderateness in anything wouldn't be good would it as it would mean that we were lacking self-control or being unreasonable or unrestrained ... all of which can lead us down a path that we as Christian would not want to walk on would would we ...:(

One of the reasons this world we live in is becoming farther and farther removed from our God and Christ is that the 'proper bounds' that our heavenly father set in the Garden of Eden were doubted, ignored, rejected, and then actively acted against by some more than others ...

Jehovah created 'REASONABLE boundaries' for a reason ... and we can see some of the reasons quite clearly when we look at the world scene ... and perhaps even closer to home in problems that we have to deal with because the 'desire for things forbidden' has somehow come close to us in some way ... :(

What 'forbidden' things does the world 'lust after' or 'desire' more than the the desire to want to serve God in spirit and truth ... the walk the WAY our master and lord walked ...?

Past and modern history shows that lusts for POWER and VENGEANCE has caused much heartache and death and corruption to abound has it not ...?

Lusts for sex outside the marriage arrangement has proven to be the cause of marriage breakups, diseases, heartache, fatherless or motherless children and so on ...?

Lust or desire for FAME ... whatever its reason ... has caused pride, a walking on others to get what one wants, doing whatever it takes to 'get to the top' and so on has usually not brought the pursuer of such things the security and happiness they had sought so hard to attain has it ...?

Lust for WORSHIP from men has caused many to go down a path that is in direct opposition to our God ... sometimes causing the one who wants 'worship' to give his soul to the Devil ... sometimes LITERALLY as well as figuratively also not a good thing is it ...?

The thirst and desire for MONEY causes many to lose their 'way' ... leaving honesty and valued principles such as honor and integrity along the wayside to achieve their goals ...

The list could go on ... but when you look at just a few of the things the world lusts after we see that they are not POSITIVE things are they ... and that they, because of their immoderateness, tend to lead to so many NEGATIVE things ... things that reflect the 'works of the flesh' :(rather than the 'fruits of the spirit' :) ...

So, may we strive to have OUR DESIRE to be based on GODLY THINGS ... on the things of the spirit and NOT the things of the WORLD ... for the world is being ruled now by someone who is in OPPOSITION to our heavenly Father ... who is seeking to CORRUPT mankind and DESTROY it ... not HELP and SAVE it ...

If our desire is for what is just and right ... then when the world DOES 'desires of this world disappear' ... and they WILL ... then we won't be among the ones who thought they could 'direct their steps' ... but rather we had let OUR GOD and his SON direct our steps for us!!:thumbup:

Well, I guess I've rambled on enough ... maybe someone else will like to be a bit of a 'rambling rose' :rose: themselves ... :whistle:

Luv to all ... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:

I liked your thoughts on balance. Eating, drinking, sex, money and so on are not bad in themselves. It is the overemphasizing of them that is bad.

Unfortunately, JWs seem to go to an almost ascetic extreme, and they do not seem to enjoy the gift of life they have been given. I enjoy the Message Bible's version of Eccl. 9:7-10:

"Seize life! Eat bread with gusto. Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes-God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love, each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, for there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed."

Enjoy your day,
Justy

YEs yes,

Balance, we are not to make anything into an idol.

some definitions are
idol def
1.
a. An image used as an object of worship.
b. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
3. Something visible but without substance.

another way to state excess or adoration is
"That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored."

"All things are clean to clean people!" If we are not swayed into "addiction" of any kind we are well on our way.

And Justica Perfect
" Oh yes-God takes pleasure in your pleasure!" So did Jesus he even made more wine!! to have the party continue..

I don't even have Kids yet if i see one that has done something good or recieved a gift, oh the Joy on their face!!! Can you just imagine how happy God is when someone gets turned back from a sinfull life!!
The over whelming joy in his heart for us.!!
He has always just wanted the best for us. IF we "all humans" would only listen to him..