Are we sinning whenever we don’t think about God?
Question:
Hi,
Whenever I get free time I like to imagine random things. It has been kind of a hobby every since I was a child. I feel like writing a story sometimes with the ideas I get in my mind. However, my friend recently told me that whenever we don't think about God we sin. Of course, he said that very vaguely, so I was hoping if you can answer how we should live for God (in this case mentally) in our lives.
Also are the imaginations I have (of course, it's not adulterous or anything like that) wrong?
And most of all what is considered a sin, besides the obvious ones mentioned in the Bible?
It would be great if you can help me with this.
Answer:
A long time ago Solomon warned, "Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?" (Ecclesiastes 9:16). At first, this statement is puzzling. How can someone be too righteous? But your friend's advice is a perfect example. He has made up a rule that is not found in the Bible. Your friend was vague about his statement because he cannot support his idea from the Bible. It sounds "good" at first because thinking about God is a good thing (Psalm 119:97). But since it cannot be accomplished, he is setting himself up for failure. A person must give thoughts to work, homework, tests, and other required tasks in life. Since it is God that commands that we work (II Thessalonians 3:10), then it cannot be a sin to think about work when we are working.
So let's back up and consider your question about sin. Sin is breaking God's laws. "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" (I John 3:4). Generally, people don't just happen to break a law. They think about the possibility in advance. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:21-23). The only difference between contemplating sin and actually committing sin is the opportunity to do it. Thus strongly desiring to sin (or lust) is equivalent to sin. "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
But you are not daydreaming about sin. You are being creative in your thoughts. I know of nothing that condemns such thoughts. There can be a danger if your daydreams hinder you from working to support yourself. "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough" (Proverbs 28:19). There is a danger for some that their daydreams become more real to them than reality. "For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God" (Ecclesiastes 5:7). You have to realize that dreams alone will not put food on the table. You can do so much daydreaming that useful work gets neglected. But if you do use your imaginations to a profitable end, such as in the writing of stories to entertain others or as a way to invent new things, then there is nothing wrong with what you are doing.
