tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post7119174710340841180..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: The peril of the "if only"Phil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-57181129893069660222011-03-19T18:49:54.403-07:002011-03-19T18:49:54.403-07:00Paul summed it up in Philippians 4:12-13. Having l...Paul summed it up in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phil%204:12-13&version=ESV" rel="nofollow">Philippians 4:12-13</a>. Having little is a test of contentment, but so is <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut%208&version=ESV" rel="nofollow">having plenty</a>. We must learn to be content in all circumstances - and the secret is to find contentment in Christ alone.trogdorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452996348717802065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-63656086843498383882011-03-18T09:40:10.883-07:002011-03-18T09:40:10.883-07:00Dan,
Another wonderful article! Particularly what...Dan,<br /><br />Another wonderful article! Particularly what it says to me is that our hearts cannot be satisfied apart from Christ. Though we have the world, our hearts would still desire more, and would still run head first into destruction. Solomon had it all, transgressed, and eventually learned what in life truly had any value; namely God.<br /><br />In like manner when I begin to consider all the <i>things</i> that would make my life <i>right</i>, I should step back and fearfully consider the example found in Solomon.<br /><br />Perhaps I'm misreading? <br /><br />In any case, I found much to take away from this article. Thank you.<br /><br />Blessings, <br /><br />MichaelMichael W. Brewer Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697662761522337828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-17990459459588401882011-03-18T08:58:40.273-07:002011-03-18T08:58:40.273-07:00"WARNING: do not take your DJP on an empty st..."WARNING: do not take your DJP on an empty stomach. Have some Osteen first."DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-31241783334971491342011-03-18T08:56:13.783-07:002011-03-18T08:56:13.783-07:00I intentionally reread this (and the accompanying ...I intentionally reread this (and the accompanying one on Colossians) because I had a hard heart yesterday and this morning over God inexplicably seeming to not be willing to give me something I really need (I speak as a sinful fool). The conviction was a little much. Shoulda just picked up Osteen or something....<br /><br />;) Thanks for the exhortation. It was and is very needed.Rachael Starkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781158372237369417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-39624533678787142092011-03-18T08:32:37.698-07:002011-03-18T08:32:37.698-07:00Related, cf. Romans 1:18-32, where a form of God&#...Related, cf. Romans 1:18-32, where a form of God's punishment is to give sinners over to what they desire, handing them over to their sinful passions.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12784922935749497931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-30311148738755623952011-03-17T23:29:06.355-07:002011-03-17T23:29:06.355-07:00Deuteronomy is the foundation for much of the Old ...Deuteronomy is the foundation for much of the Old Testament. Deuteronomy is synonymous with "I told you so"!thomas4881https://www.blogger.com/profile/16839685480671937969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-50848630527859163512011-03-17T23:04:39.678-07:002011-03-17T23:04:39.678-07:00Just the point most prosperity guys miss.
The poi...Just the point most prosperity guys miss.<br /> The point most of us miss. <br />The point I regularly choose to forget. <br />Fear of God the beginning of all wisdom.<br />The one thing persecute you need to fear God is to always now He is present.Thomas Louwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08406486510590654502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-59409018488509983342011-03-17T22:32:58.010-07:002011-03-17T22:32:58.010-07:00PS: "never satisfied are the eyes of man&quo...PS: "never satisfied are the eyes of man" (Prov. 27:7)Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16202138393848877035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-18818764877692106722011-03-17T22:28:33.836-07:002011-03-17T22:28:33.836-07:00(@ OP) Hence the need for burkas. (Or does that a...(@ OP) Hence the need for burkas. (Or does that apply more in David's case?)<br /><br />;)<br /><br />(Word veri = "aright" !)Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16202138393848877035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-33939454281718122702011-03-17T13:10:38.149-07:002011-03-17T13:10:38.149-07:00This message was unusually relevant for me. One co...This message was unusually relevant for me. One could almost say providential...Scothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16573138499478048502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48730150803718967702011-03-17T11:17:24.210-07:002011-03-17T11:17:24.210-07:00TUAD,
I've always understood, especially via ...<i>TUAD,<br /><br />I've always understood, especially via Ecclesiastes, that Solomon return to the Lord before his end.</i><br /><br />Thanks Daryl. I certainly hope that that is indeed what happened with Solomon.<br /><br />Solomon's story shows us that even the wisest of us can backslide on occasion.Truth Unites... and Divideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891402278361538353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-70896164958066240232011-03-17T11:05:36.310-07:002011-03-17T11:05:36.310-07:00Semijohn,
I think any "if only" is wrong...Semijohn,<br />I think any "if only" is wrong. On one hand, you are dissatisfied with what God is <i>not</i> doing in your life and on the other hand, you are dissatisfied with what God <i>is</i> doing in your life.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07907232516924907165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-16742597617457945062011-03-17T09:41:46.263-07:002011-03-17T09:41:46.263-07:00Nice, Dan. I'll have to add that one to my &qu...Nice, Dan. I'll have to add that one to my "if only" list:)<br /><br />An odd thought, though: Can "if only" also refer to wanting to avoid the possible or inevitable change? Maybe a la Jonah? Or am I going way beyond the focus?semijohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188410200321163478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-36511962908602848422011-03-17T09:23:04.031-07:002011-03-17T09:23:04.031-07:00Then maybe you'd be "Allthewayjohn."...Then maybe you'd be "Allthewayjohn."<br /><br />(c:DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-32111740400124509172011-03-17T09:22:06.613-07:002011-03-17T09:22:06.613-07:00If only I could stop saying "If only".If only I could stop saying "If only".semijohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188410200321163478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-40289247429119371902011-03-17T09:06:25.366-07:002011-03-17T09:06:25.366-07:00Whoops- was thinking of discontentment when I wrot...Whoops- was thinking of discontentment when I wrote that comment- before I looked at your third link.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780306672607484307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-66014032818188940792011-03-17T09:02:57.201-07:002011-03-17T09:02:57.201-07:00If only I could eat the fruit from that one tree o...If only I could eat the fruit from that one tree over there...Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780306672607484307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-43530030320015511082011-03-17T08:46:04.797-07:002011-03-17T08:46:04.797-07:00Everytime I think about Solomon, I get Jim from Hu...Everytime I think about Solomon, I get Jim from Huckleberry Finn in my head talking about Solomon and all his wives and children.<br /><br />Anyway, I am perfectly happy with the one wife that I have. But man, if I could just get more blog traffic...Brad Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00197301845256854051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-59062496267965685462011-03-17T08:07:48.221-07:002011-03-17T08:07:48.221-07:00That's why Solomon so gets me, Seth. What cate...That's why Solomon so gets me, Seth. What category of circumstance-change might we wish for, that Solomon didn't already have? And where did that lead, for him? Do we think we're better?DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-75866762730256380742011-03-17T07:58:44.706-07:002011-03-17T07:58:44.706-07:00Thanks for making me think! I succumb to the "...Thanks for making me think! I succumb to the "if only I made more money..." statement every now and then. Great post.Sethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248559361975013834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-13504053369292406982011-03-17T07:49:39.851-07:002011-03-17T07:49:39.851-07:00Kind of goes back to the two sons at the banquet t...Kind of goes back to the two sons at the banquet table. If you're always waiting for and wanting something ELSE, something <i>better</i> it shows a basic dissatisfaction with what God has already blessed you with.<br /><br />Because you don't recognize it AS blessing.Steve Bervenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02137453259611119361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48941414303574231152011-03-17T07:43:29.683-07:002011-03-17T07:43:29.683-07:00Good reminder that we are all "works in progr...Good reminder that we are all "works in progress" - if we ever think we've got it down, look out!<br /><br />Thanks, Dan.<br /><br /><i>Squirrel</i>The Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14082708506676251152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-74034201641494131892011-03-17T06:23:35.300-07:002011-03-17T06:23:35.300-07:00Humbling. I pray we (me and other Christians livin...Humbling. I pray we (me and other Christians living today) get it.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885795712009955563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-9220918367700766272011-03-17T06:19:57.492-07:002011-03-17T06:19:57.492-07:00NLB - perfect vs.
The point is: whoever thinks, &...NLB - perfect vs.<br /><br />The point is: whoever thinks, "I'd be happy and content IF ONLY {external situation change}," doesn't fully get the whole being-a-Christian thing.<br /><br />Not that situations don't need change, not that praying for situational change is bad, not that working for situation change is bad. But putting off happiness, because in effect God and His promises are not good enough reason truly to be joyous, is a problem.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3383804659358275152011-03-17T06:17:29.232-07:002011-03-17T06:17:29.232-07:00TUAD,
I've always understood, especially via ...TUAD,<br /><br />I've always understood, especially via Ecclesiastes, that Solomon return to the Lord before his end.<br /><br /><br />Great post, and needed warning Dan. I've often seen Saul in that same light. He had it all (although not in a Solomonic way) and wanted more. His life has always terrified and saddened me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com