How to Really Enjoy this Weekend

What does it mean to think “Christianly” about our possessions? Through 30 years of ministry and marriage, pastor Jeff Manion has explored the beauty of virtues like contentment, gratitude, and generosity. But recently, while mining passages of scripture for his book Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption, he was reminded of an additional, often overlooked quality: Enjoyment.  To enjoy God, the Giver of all — and give His gifts to others that they may in turn, turn to God and enjoy Him. Welcoming Jeff Manion to the farm’s front porch:

by Jeff Manion

It’s Saturday morning.

Stan has determined to fully take the day off.

No responding to e-mails from work, no repeated checking of his phone for text messages.

He stands at the stove flipping pancakes and frying eggs. Coffee brews.

His wife sleeps in as his two pajama clad, preschool age sons watch cartoons in the adjacent family room. Mingled aromas fill the kitchen.

He pours a mug of coffee and plates the pancakes and eggs-calling his boys to the table.

Stan’s heart is full.

In this simple moment of cooking breakfast for his boys on an unrushed weekend morning, he is swept away by a wave of God’s goodness.

He feels rich. If he listens carefully in this moment, he will detect a whisper: “Enjoy this.”

As the boys scamper to the table, Stan breathes a response. “Thanks.“

This is worship. Simple, pure, spontaneous gratitude to the Giver.

There have been other moments when Stan has felt this sensation. The previous summer, things had been tight financially.

One Sunday afternoon the family made an excursion to a county park 20 minutes from their home. The boys splashed in a shallow stream as he prepared a bed of coals on which to grill hotdogs.

It was a postcard day, shade from massive oaks, warm but not oppressively hot. And laughter. Pure glee as his sons waded and splashed. A common adage proclaims that the best things in life are free.

This expedition was not totally free but pretty close-the combined cost of dogs, buns, chips and iced tea was around $10.00. But the richness of the day far exceeded the investment.

Again, there was the whispered voice “enjoy this” and the responsive worship. “Thanks.”

Imbedded in the wise council given by the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy, we find these challenging words regarding wealth.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,

which is so uncertain,

but to put their hope in God,

who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (I Timothy 6:17)

Those final words may come as something of a surprise.

In this caution to wealthy Christians is a reminder that God abundantly provides everything for our enjoyment. Our gracious Father provides innumerable gifts and wants you to enjoy them.

I reflected on these words early last spring as I sat on my backyard deck in the darkness.

A small fountain gurgled a dozen feet away augmenting the sounds of the summer evening with that of bubbling water, the area illuminated by the flame of an outdoor fireplace. I inhaled the aroma of fresh bark spread in the flower garden below. It was a cool spring night, chilly enough to deter mosquitoes, yet warm enough to sit outside-a truly glorious May evening.

This night was a gift.

In the simple luxuries of fountain and flame, I detected the whisper of my Lord. “Enjoy this.” In that moment, I experienced a flood of deep grateful — I was blessed beyond anything I had done or deserve.

Now here’s my challenge: how to fall deeper in love with God and not my deck furniture. How to find my hope in God and not in my stuff. Will the enjoyment of these blessings stir or eclipse my affection for the Giver?

I must humbly move toward receiving the gift of my backyard, the blessing of this wondrous evening, from the hand of a generous Creator, but not hold God in contempt by loving His gifts more than Himself.

What daily enjoyments flood your life? From our world we enjoy bread, and cheese and we dine on pasta. We savor the flavors of rich coffee, tangy oranges, tart apples and crisp carrots. And He, the creator, provides this for us with the intent that we would find His generous hand behind the dozen enjoyments of each day and turn to Him in gratitude.

Do you hear his voice inviting you to enter into joy? The invitation calls to you, as you sit beside a fireplace on a winter evening, or sip a steaming mug of tea, or view the bouquet of autumn trees. “Enjoy this.“

Hear the voice as your pick fresh vegetables from your garden, recline in the summer shade, enjoy morning espresso, or as your senses awaken to the scent of spring rain, or the crisp winter air.

Respond to the goodness of the Creator with deep thanks and unbridled joy as you dig into a great salad, a peanut butter sandwich, or share an unrushed dinner with friends.

As you walk along the beach, hike beside a stream, or sit beside a fountain open your heart to thank the Giver, who in Paul’s words, “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

The pair of hiking shoes, the warm blanket, view of the snow from your window –

Enjoy this.

 

 

by Jeff Manion

Jeff Manion is the senior teaching pastor of Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for 30 years. His great joy is digging deeply into Scripture and passionately teaching the story of the Bible in a clear and relevant way. Jeff is an avid runner and enjoys cycling and hiking. He and his wife, Chris, have three adult children. Jeff’s first book, The Land Between, released in 2010 and his second book, Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption may be a grace way to begin to enjoy this weekend, this year?

Tomorrow’s post, Lord willing: Only the Really Good Stuff: Links Guaranteed to make you Laugh in your coffee, Be Moved in your world, Feel Inspired right now & Be the G.I.F.T. to others so they may be Satisfied and deeply enjoy God …

Click here to download the FREE EASTER / LENT Devotional: The Trail to the Tree{please give it a few moments to download… thank you for grace!}