As Christians, we know that this world is not our true home. We know the biblical command to love God

and turn away from the idols of this life. But what does that look like practically? And does that

mean that we shouldn't enjoy the good gifts of this life like a relaxing vacation, a beautiful home or delicious food.

Sometimes, if we're honest, living in the tension of being in the world, but not of it, can feel

like an impossible, confusing task. My guest today is Joe Rigney, and in our conversation, we talk

about how to navigate this tricky issue. Joe shares about how John Piper and others have influenced him over the years,

helping him learn that enjoying God includes enjoying the good gifts that he puts around us.

Joe serves as a Fellow of Theology at New St. Andrews College.

He's a husband, a father of three, and the author of a number of books,

including Strangely Bright. Can you love God and enjoy this world from Crossway? Let's get started.

Well, Joe, thank you so much for joining me on the Crossway podcast today.

My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

So I think all Christians at times wrestle with the tension that we feel between loving God, first and foremost, and loving and enjoying the things of this world that are all around us, whether that's good food or a spouse or our children,

or even just a favorite hobby or activity. And so I think that's probably a universal Christian struggle to some extent.

But it seems like in our circles, kind of the reformed evangelical circles, and maybe even more specifically, those of us who have

been shaped by the ministry of John Piper and some of his teaching about desiring God above all else

and seeking to honor and glorify God, that maybe this can sometimes feel like a particular

challenge to think about. So I guess I wonder to start us off. Can you share a bit about

how you first encountered John Piper's teachings and this idea of Christian hedonism and how all

that has kind of shaped your own theology? Yeah, absolutely. So I think it was right before high

school. I think it was actually in college, probably my freshman year of college,

is when I first really began to listen to Piper. This will date me, but I was listening to Piper

...