OUR DAILY BREAD             Sat., July 22, 1995   
--------------- 
 
READ: Genesis 3:1-6;    
      Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 
 
                 
                  TOO STRICT 
 
          "God...gives us richly all 
               things to enjoy." 
 
                        -- 1 Timothy 6:17 
 
The tempter knows his craft.  After all, he has 
been practicing it since the world began.  He 
tries to get us to forfeit God's blessing by 
urging us to ignore God's laws or by slyly getting 
us to add to them.  He knows we can fall into a 
ditch on either side of the road. 
 
In his chat with Eve, he first suggested that God 
didn't want her to enjoy ANY of the trees in the 
garden (Gen. 3:1).  Eve jumped to God's defense, 
explaining that it was only the fruit of the 
middle tree that was off limits (vv. 2-3).  But 
then she added that even touching the tree would 
bring death (v. 3).  God, though, hadn't said 
anything about touching it. 
 
Some of us try to defend God by being more strict 
than He is.  We believe we are holier if we go 
beyond His commands.  As a result, we miss out on 
the orchard because we are denied a single piece 
of poisoned fruit.  Not only will we not touch 
that tree, but we also will not touch the tree 
next to it or a tree that looks like it.  By 
doing so we dishonor God. 
 
God has given us all good things to enjoy  
(1 Tim. 6:17).  He's not pleased when we focus 
on what is prohibited and fail to enjoy all of 
His blessings.  It is not only a shame but also 
a sin not to enjoy life. 
 
                        -- Haddon W. Robinson 
 
                FOR FURTHER STUDY 
 
   What do these verses say about enjoying life? 
   Genesis 1:28-31; Psalm 36:7-9; Ecclesiastes 2: 
Acts 14:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 2:20-23 
 
------------------------------------------ 
           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
------------------------------------------ 
            The joy of living  
   comes from a heart of thanksgiving.  
------------------------------------------ 
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Ecclesiastes 4-6

=============================================================
Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio 
Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are 
being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible 
Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we 
look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet 
in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be
obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of 
Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded 
by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily 
from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or 
call 1-800-598-7221.

Thanks to Ken Foster for establishing the email list from 
which this copy of Our Daily Bread originated. A subscription 
is also available from the "ODB List".

RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communica-
tions Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/.

- ICLnet
=============================================================


-------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950722.txt

.