Quote from Calvin

I've been reading through a condensed version of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion and ran across this the other day. It's thought-provoking.

Of course ivory, gold and wealth are God's good gifts, permitted, indeed designed by His Providence for man's use. Laughter, good food and drink, possessions and music have never been forbidden. But wrong use can be made of them all if we wallow in luxury and constantly seek new pleasures. God's gifts must be used in moderation, without pride or arrogance. Moderation allows legitimate use: without it even ordinary pleasures can become excessive. A proud mind can live in modest clothes, and true humility be cloaked with fine linen. So everyone must remember that God's gifts are fore life, not luxury.

Book Three, part ten, chapter 19

The truth of these ramifications are visible daily. I know so many Christians that live to excess on either side, to legalism or to license. It comes through with use of time, use of drink, use of media, and use of language. The legalistic person thinks all time must be dedicated to work, that no one should drink alchoholic beverages, that watching just about any movie or television show should be barred, and that many many words are out of bounds. The licentious person thinks it's okay to be lazy, drinks any beverage at any time, watches whatever they please, and uses whatever language they wish. The wise person treads the middle path.