This is one of those songs that has managed to stay relevant for me through many different stages of life. Perhaps it is just the nature of the flesh to continually lose focus and think that our main purpose is lived out in the here and now. It's a subtle form of losing faith: not the clenched fist "Why God?" moment that looks good in a movie of doubt and loss, but rather a wearing away of the desire to seek true life beyond what is right in front of us.
Because this is a topic lived out in so many Christians lives, not a few songs have been written about this; I wasn't charting new territory here. But one thing I did want to express when talking about my own struggles is my realization that while focusing on the "stuff" around me can be a huge distraction, so can a legalistic ignoring of that same "stuff". My contention that it isn't how we view this world that is the problem, but rather how we view our faith. Throughout the ages people have tried to reach God through self-denial and separateness just as much as others have tried to attain happiness through hedonism and the accumulation of earthly treasures. But neither of these attempts is at all what the Christian life is about. The Apostle Paul talks about being content in situations where he has much or little in Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV): "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me".
The key is his perspective is on eternal things: on Christ Jesus. Having need isn't a barrier to his faith, nor is having abundance. Self-denial and asceticism aren't a superior way to God, but I think that's sometimes the way we react when we see we've been caught up in the "stuff" around us.
The answer, as it always is, is Jesus. It is he who strengthens us and he who gives us real purpose. All the self-denial we can stand, or all the hedonism we can attain, will amount to nothing if Christ is not our focus. We must remember that this world around us and all of its pleasures are not our home. God gives us many blessings and we should not feel guilty for that (we must not fall into the trap of believing that the physical world is evil, as an heresy taught), but nor should we allow any created thing to take our eyes away from Jesus.
I've heard the quote before that we can become "So heavenly minded that we are no earthly good", but I think that statement is just false. Jesus said in Mathew 6:33 (ESV) to " . . . seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you". Everything we do MUST be in light of eternity and our understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. I think that this should reveal itself in a form of discontentment with this world, that we ought never be too comfortable with this world, because ultimately it is not our home. That doesn't mean rejecting the things in it that are good, but rather remembering that where we are going will be better in every way. Our identity is formed in Christ and his kingdom, not what we build for ourselves in this dim and broken version of Creation.
Because this is a topic lived out in so many Christians lives, not a few songs have been written about this; I wasn't charting new territory here. But one thing I did want to express when talking about my own struggles is my realization that while focusing on the "stuff" around me can be a huge distraction, so can a legalistic ignoring of that same "stuff". My contention that it isn't how we view this world that is the problem, but rather how we view our faith. Throughout the ages people have tried to reach God through self-denial and separateness just as much as others have tried to attain happiness through hedonism and the accumulation of earthly treasures. But neither of these attempts is at all what the Christian life is about. The Apostle Paul talks about being content in situations where he has much or little in Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV): "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me".
The key is his perspective is on eternal things: on Christ Jesus. Having need isn't a barrier to his faith, nor is having abundance. Self-denial and asceticism aren't a superior way to God, but I think that's sometimes the way we react when we see we've been caught up in the "stuff" around us.
The answer, as it always is, is Jesus. It is he who strengthens us and he who gives us real purpose. All the self-denial we can stand, or all the hedonism we can attain, will amount to nothing if Christ is not our focus. We must remember that this world around us and all of its pleasures are not our home. God gives us many blessings and we should not feel guilty for that (we must not fall into the trap of believing that the physical world is evil, as an heresy taught), but nor should we allow any created thing to take our eyes away from Jesus.
I've heard the quote before that we can become "So heavenly minded that we are no earthly good", but I think that statement is just false. Jesus said in Mathew 6:33 (ESV) to " . . . seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you". Everything we do MUST be in light of eternity and our understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. I think that this should reveal itself in a form of discontentment with this world, that we ought never be too comfortable with this world, because ultimately it is not our home. That doesn't mean rejecting the things in it that are good, but rather remembering that where we are going will be better in every way. Our identity is formed in Christ and his kingdom, not what we build for ourselves in this dim and broken version of Creation.
I've been thinking about all the blessings that I have
And the time that I've been playing with my toys
I wonder should I ignore the pleasure I receive
Or maybe you intend these things to bring me joy
But there's a point that I can miss so easily
So father help me look into eternity
So I cry "Lord make me holy"
Help me rise, above these things that hold me
As I walk on this earth, ever toward your throne
Help me walk like a man not yet home"
There are times when I find I have somehow slipped away
From the way I know I should be loving you
I often blame what I have, this world, or even you
But it all comes down to my own point of view
I live so often day to day on grace
When I need to look beyond this world to the glory of your face
So I cry "Lord make me holy"
Help me rise, above these things that hold me
As I walk on this earth, ever toward your throne
Help me walk like a man not yet home"
And they say the point of the journey is not the end where we arrive
That may be true but on my way it's where I'll keep my eyes
So I cry "Lord make me holy"
Help me rise, above these things that hold me
As I walk on this earth, ever toward your throne
Help me walk like a man not yet home"