I recently had a great week! Our family got a little kitty. We named him Heman
after an 80’s cartoon I grew up with. And Heman is awesome! He plays well, and he is
good with our kids. Not only that but he sits on my tummy and purrs. Ahh, good stuff.
Beyond the cat I was mowing the lawn, and then out of nowhere my wife offers to finish
mowing the lawn for me. Talk about awesome. And the weather was good, and I was
thinking about all the good things God has given me. I could go on.

I hope you’re having one of those good weeks, or had one recently.

But do you think it’s possible to have too much good? At Amazing Love we’ve
been talking about the Lord’s Prayer and the petition that says, lead us not into
temptation. And here’s what I believe, if we’re not tempted with something inherently
evil, we can be subtly tempted by too much good.

And think of all the good things summer brings. Boats and beaches, Sox and
Cubs games, Bears training camp, pools and water parks, Taste of Chicago and
Ribfest, Lollapalooza and Taylor Swift! Come on! And I absolutely love having a great
time!

But if we have all good times, and no times with God - it’s an attack. If we have
all good things, but no consideration of God things - we’re at war. These are the subtle
temptations we face.

And this problem of too much good isn’t just true of this age. Before we came to
be a man under the inspiration of God penned this proverb, “Give me neither poverty
nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and
disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so
dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9). On the side of too much good is that
we lose our sight of God.

And it isn’t that cats or concerts are bad. It’s just that if God’s provision is
blocking our vision of the truest treasure it’s an attack, it’s no good. For the best this
world has to offer, the truest treasure, is Jesus. He is the one who this day is calling
you to his side so he can convince you of his love and his forgiveness. He is the one
whose goodness outlasts any summer vacation or 3-day weekend or kitty named
Heman.

Are there any good things getting in the way of the things of God? Are there any
good times crowding out your time with God? I invite you to repent. Confess this sin
before the Lord and seek out a Godly balance. Don’t allow the good things to make you
miss out on the best thing. And then know there is forgiveness from our Savior Jesus,
and open arms as he awaits you to seek him. God bless!