Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
“Unless we love natural goods — sex, alcohol, food, money, success, power — in the way God intended, we become their slaves, as any addict can attest. Jesus demonstrated in person how to live freely and fully, and not surprisingly he upset the religious establishment in the process. I cannot imagine anyone following Jesus around for two or three years and commenting, “My, think of all he missed out on.” More than likely they would say, “Think of all I am missing out on.” …
Perhaps the most powerful thing Christians can do to communicate to a skeptical world is to live fulfilled lives, exhibiting proof that Jesus’ way truly leads to a life most abundant and most thirst-satisfying. The fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — flow out of a healthy soul and in the process may attract those who have found such qualities elusive or unattainable.”
Philip Yancey in Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014).
Our relationship to natural goods such as money shapes our lives. When we idolize money, we exhibit discontentment, greed, selfishness, and many other vices. Or as the Apostle Paul put it in his letter to the Galatians: our flesh prevents us from doing what we want to do.
Alternatively, when (as Yancey notes) we relate to natural goods in the way God intended, that is to say, when we follow the design of Jesus related to things such as money, our fulfilled lives become our greatest witness to a skeptical world.
What fruits are evident in your life and what do they reveal about you? Would others say that you are living a fulfilled life? When we relate rightly to God and natural goods, we don’t miss out on anything. Ironically, it’s the only way to take hold of that which money can’t buy.