Are good things really good for you? You might be surprised by the answer in this week's podcast.

In this episode of Now is the Time I talk about the inherent danger in good things, how we are often blind to this danger and what we can do to protect ourselves.

Check out the podcast on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to leave a rating and review!

Announcements

Get a free copy of Jesus>Religion

We're asking God to provide 9 new supporters in the month of November. Help us find those supporters and you can get a free book!

I've created this page where you can find information about the campaign and fill out a short form if you want to support us.

Here's what you have to do to have a chance to win the book.

Share the Nine in November page on either Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
Write a comment on this post to let me know that you shared.
That's it!

 Good things can be dangerous
We don't usually think of good things as being dangerous, but if we're not careful they can be deadly.  Here are 3 ways that good things can turn around and bite us.
Good things become dangerous when we get so busy with them that we forget God.
Yes, even good things like work, hobbies, sports and sometimes even ministry can do us harm if we allow them to take over our life. In the gospels Jesus' friend Martha was consumed with a good thing, she was serving Jesus, she was being hospitable. Unfortunately her desire to do something good made her too busy to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to the Word of God.
"Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things.  But there's only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her." Luk 10:40-42
Good things become dangerous when they are unlimited.
Just think about it, things like food, sex, painkillers, money and power are all good but when they are unlimited or unregulated they can quickly turn into terrible addictions that will destroy a person physically and spiritually.

America is the land of abundance, but often that abundance hurts us. Having more than what we need tends to pull us away from God and cause us to forget our spiritual need. Moses warned the Israelites about this before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promise land.
"When the LORD your God brings you to the land that he promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you large and beautiful cities that you didn't build, houses filled with every good thing that you didn't supply, wells that you didn't dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you didn't plant. When you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and slavery." Deu 6:10-12
Good things become dangerous when we believe they are the source of happiness and fulfillment
While good things can bring us temporary pleasure they are  not the source of the deeper joy and fulfillment we seek. Only God can provide true happiness.

When we think that something created can fulfill us we turn it into an idol of the heart. Idols can never do what God can do.
"They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;
They have hands, but cannot touch; feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even groan with their throats.