Why is it so hard for us to be "good"?

[EvolvingChristian]

Is it because most of us are focused on seeking continual pleasure? From the moment we awake, our nature is to pursue pleasurable things, right? We are often self-centered and want the best for ourselves and what we consider to be the "best" for ourselves is that which brings us pleasure, right? We want the nicest things because they bring us pleasure. The cool car, the awesome home entertainment system, cool toys, the sharpest clothes, the tastiest food from the best restaurants, someone else to cut our grass so we can lounge in our Lazy Boy and watch football, etc., etc., etc.

Yes, by nature, we constantly seek PLEASURE for ourselves.

Those are physical things of the physical world. None of those things brings us closer to God nor does the will of Jesus.

I have come to realize that, in order to be a devoted follower of Christ, we must take care that everything we think, do, and say should be in service to Christ. If it's not, why think, say, or do it?

I wonder. Is fasting a way to deprive oneself in order to become closer to God?

 

[Tessa]

Yes we are full of "self". The flesh is weak. We like our comfort. I remember a pastor once saying to us "Don'r get too attached to your home."
We need to wake up.

 

[Christ_empowered]

fasting can be helpful. I also think its a tough balancing act...enjoying the good things The Lord chooses to bless us with vs following money, because no one can serve two masters. You either go after the world's fun, goods, games 110%, or one can follow Jesus 110% (getting there...this is a paraphrase from Scripture, btw). Serve one master, end up rejecting the other.

but each person is different. a cousin, he's got fund$ like whoa...he's solid, does international ministry. His dad was big time corporate dude, he was, too...then he got genuinely saved, now...


-shrug- he still (obviously) has mega monie$, but he uses a lot of it to do Kingdom work. He even keeps in touch with me when he has time, which...wow...good work, there. and then...

some people are poor and bitter and hate The Lord just as much as any rich person. Some middle class people play church but don't know Jesus anymore than a rich decadent debauchee or a common criminal...

and other people find The Lord in jail, in prison, in the homeless shelter, and...on and on and on.

rambling...I don't think following Jesus means self-inflicted pain all the time, I just think...maybe some fasting and repentance, prayer helps us "draw nigh unto Him," I guess.

 

[humble soul]

Is it because most of us are focused on seeking continual pleasure? From the moment we awake, our nature is to pursue pleasurable things, right? We are often self-centered and want the best for ourselves and what we consider to be the "best" for ourselves is that which brings us pleasure, right? We want the nicest things because they bring us pleasure. The cool car, the awesome home entertainment system, cool toys, the sharpest clothes, the tastiest food from the best restaurants, someone else to cut our grass so we can lounge in our Lazy Boy and watch football, etc., etc., etc.

Yes, by nature, we constantly seek PLEASURE for ourselves.

Those are physical things of the physical world. None of those things brings us closer to God nor does the will of Jesus.

I have come to realize that, in order to be a devoted follower of Christ, we must take care that everything we think, do, and say should be in service to Christ. If it's not, why think, say, or do it?

I wonder. Is fasting a way to deprive oneself in order to become closer to God?

Thought I was the only one who asked these kinds of questions.
And pleasure is high on my list of priorities and pain very low. If there was a way of losing 20 pounds through pleasure instead of pain, I would choose it.
All I would say is this: .....which makes me sound like a burnt out veteran Christian.....
Beware of the honeymoon period of your Christian journey. It's like a marriage. We start with lots of fervour, then gradually realise that real love is hard work.
Go a little easier on yourself. God doesn't expect perfection . He's more interested in your attitude than actual results. Imo.
Don't be too strict. On yourself or others. That's my conclusion though some would say I am far too loose.

 

[humble soul]

Those are physical things of the physical world. None of those things brings us closer to God .

So that's why I'm not getting closer to God.
I knew I was doing something wrong.

 

[WIP]

Is it because most of us are focused on seeking continual pleasure? From the moment we awake, our nature is to pursue pleasurable things, right? We are often self-centered and want the best for ourselves and what we consider to be the "best" for ourselves is that which brings us pleasure, right? We want the nicest things because they bring us pleasure. The cool car, the awesome home entertainment system, cool toys, the sharpest clothes, the tastiest food from the best restaurants, someone else to cut our grass so we can lounge in our Lazy Boy and watch football, etc., etc., etc.

Yes, by nature, we constantly seek PLEASURE for ourselves.

Those are physical things of the physical world. None of those things brings us closer to God nor does the will of Jesus.

I have come to realize that, in order to be a devoted follower of Christ, we must take care that everything we think, do, and say should be in service to Christ. If it's not, why think, say, or do it?

I wonder. Is fasting a way to deprive oneself in order to become closer to God?

I have a question. Does this mean that God's preference for us is to seek misery and strife? Somehow, I don't think this was the case with Adam and Eve. Their life was likely very pleasurable, don't you think?

 

[Christ_empowered]

i dunno. i think one can be close God on the mountain top as well as in the valley. Scripture says -love of money- is the root of all sorts of evil, not money, per se.

gluttony is a deadly sin. enjoying good food is probably godly, because He has provided something delicious. sloth is a deadly sin. lazing about for a while, enjoying moments of peace and relaxation are probably OK, maybe even godly. lust is a deadly sin, and a dangerous one, too. enjoying a spouse is godly....

on and and and on it goes. im not some kind of Christian guru or anything, but I don't want to fall into the faux asceticism trap, in which denial=godliness, straight up. not my deal, in part because juice fasting makes my Schizophrenia 110x worse. true story.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

Does this mean that God's preference for us is to seek misery and strife?

I don't believe so.

 

[WIP]

I don't believe so.

But that's what your opening post seems to be saying. Maybe you need to clarify a little more.

 

[Christ_empowered]

i think EvolvingChristian is "thinking out loud," so to speak. 'as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another' that's where other believers come in...

 

[WIP]

i think EvolvingChristian is "thinking out loud," so to speak. 'as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another' that's where other believers come in...

That's why I asked for him to clarify.

 

[Hopeful]

Thought I was the only one who asked these kinds of questions.
And pleasure is high on my list of priorities and pain very low. If there was a way of losing 20 pounds through pleasure instead of pain, I would choose it.
All I would say is this: .....which makes me sound like a burnt out veteran Christian.....
Beware of the honeymoon period of your Christian journey. It's like a marriage. We start with lots of fervour, then gradually realise that real love is hard work.
Go a little easier on yourself. God doesn't expect perfection . He's more interested in your attitude than actual results. Imo.
Don't be too strict. On yourself or others. That's my conclusion though some would say I am far too loose.

Doesn't He expect perfection?
He did leave us this commandment..."Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48)
He wasn't talking about skills in algebra or spelling words or balancing your check-book.
He was talking about our love for Him and for our neighbors.
It isn't really that hard to do, as He is always there to help.

 

[for_his_glory]

God wants us to have the best and there is no sin in wanting and having nice things, but when those material things become your god as you place them higher than God in your life then that is where the sin of pride, greed and idol worshipping comes into your life as you love the material only to give God second place in your life.

As far as fasting (going without food for whatever length of time) I have never felt the need to do this within my prayer time. Isaiah 58:1-14 and Matthew 6:16-17 teaches us the true and false way of fasting. We can read in scripture about those who choose to go without food, but I have never read in the scriptures where God said to go without food when we fast. If anyone else knows of those certain scriptures please share them.

 

[Hopeful]

God wants us to have the best and there is no sin in wanting and having nice things, but when those material things become your god as you place them higher than God in your life then that is where the sin of pride, greed and idol worshipping comes into your life as you love the material only to give God second place in your life.

As far as fasting (going without food for whatever length of time) I have never felt the need to do this within my prayer time. Isaiah 58:1-14 and Matthew 6:16-17 teaches us the true and false way of fasting. We can read in scripture about those who choose to go without food, but I have never read in the scriptures where God said to go without food when we fast. If anyone else knows of those certain scriptures please share them.

Fasting is a great way to show the body who is "running the show".
The mind...focused on Christ.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

i think @EvolvingChristian is "thinking out loud,"

Correct.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

But that's what your opening post seems to be saying. Maybe you need to clarify a little more.

I'm not entirely sure what I'm saying.

I think I'm saying that we would serve Jesus better, as well as ourselves, if we avoided having gaudy eyes for everything flashy and instead focused on that which is most pleasing to him, such as doing unto others, particularly the least of them.

What did Jesus say was necessary to those who wanted to be his disciple? They had to give away everything, right?

That is something the overwhelming majority of even BELIEVERS will not do.

 

[for_his_glory]

Fasting is a great way to show the body who is "running the show".
The mind...focused on Christ.

Yes, but where does it say that fasting is going without food? Sure, Abraham and Daniel fasted without eating or drinking. I see that as their own choice and not instructed by God.

 

[Hopeful]

Yes, but where does it say that fasting is going without food? Sure, Abraham and Daniel fasted without eating or drinking. I see that as their own choice and not instructed by God.

I didn't mention food in my post, but you are correct.
When the mind over-rules what the skin and bones want, it is a victory for the mind.
It strengthens us.

 

[Serving Zion]

Is it because most of us are focused on seeking continual pleasure? From the moment we awake, our nature is to pursue pleasurable things, right? We are often self-centered and want the best for ourselves and what we consider to be the "best" for ourselves is that which brings us pleasure, right? We want the nicest things because they bring us pleasure. The cool car, the awesome home entertainment system, cool toys, the sharpest clothes, the tastiest food from the best restaurants, someone else to cut our grass so we can lounge in our Lazy Boy and watch football, etc., etc., etc.

Yes, by nature, we constantly seek PLEASURE for ourselves.

Those are physical things of the physical world. None of those things brings us closer to God nor does the will of Jesus.

I have come to realize that, in order to be a devoted follower of Christ, we must take care that everything we think, do, and say should be in service to Christ. If it's not, why think, say, or do it?

I wonder. Is fasting a way to deprive oneself in order to become closer to God?

When Jesus said "my flesh is real food" He was saying "my word is the bread of life. Whoever eats what I give him to eat will never be hungry", and He said "my blood is real drink. Whoever drinks my blood has life in him" and that's referring to the passage in Isaiah "by His wounds we are healed". See the way He responded whenever someone tried to exalt themselves over Him: of course they were assaulting Him by doing so, and His response is of love, just as a child might respond in love, and if someone is not satisfied by the way we bleed but needs to keep on beating, then they aren't drinking my blood, they are shedding it. So that's why the scriptures say to give ourselves as a living sacrifice .. to do all things without grumbling, because we don't want to make it hard for them to be satisfied by the shedding of our blood. On the other hand, when they strike us and we know we have the right to condemn them, the only reason we do that is because it satisfies our flesh to shed their blood in return. Of course I am speaking metaphorically about the shedding of blood and the striking of blows, because it's usually emotional abuse, narcissism, etc, and so it means that when we can hold our tongue and refrain from doing the judgment, hand the judgment over to God, that is when we are denying the flesh and as a result the demonic spirit in that one is condemned by God's judgment, giving the Holy Spirit His right to face us through their repentant heart (remember that trust is paramount for confession, and our condemning of their sin is not conducive to their trust - it pushes them further into deceit). That's why Jesus said "this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting". The prayer is to work with God in the ministry, and the fasting is to suppress the urge to satisfy the flesh when they are doing their best to debase us .. in that way the flesh is crucified and the spirit is brought to life through the love that exists in absence of hate (1 John 3:15). Remember that when they try to bring us down, they are trying to invoke unholy behaviour in us and God only abides in us when we are abiding in love (1 John 4:16). If we are not being merciful to them in the moment it is because we are feeding our flesh instead, and when the evil spirit comes out of them, what spirit is then in them? That is how fasting brings us nearer to God.

 

[for_his_glory]

I didn't mention food in my post, but you are correct.
When the mind over-rules what the skin and bones want, it is a victory for the mind.
It strengthens us.

I apologize as I thought that was what you meant. It's all good.