What is hindering me?

So as I was working last night I listened to a sermon on the "Sermon on the Mount" more specifically the section of Matthew 5 we all refer to as the "Beatitudes." One of the verses seemed to stand out for the pastor and it also has stood out for me. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God Matthew 5:8 New Living Translation. After spending many months in deep study of 1 Peter with my Life Group, it became clear that God is a refiner. He wants our hearts to be pure, and the reason why is obvious so we can see Him, for that in and of itself is the blessing. The blessing is not having a good job or a good retirement, it is not having kids who listen or excel in school (though having kids in and of itself is a blessing God allows us to have to get just a small picture of His immense love for us), it's not even having good health or any health for that matter, it's seeing Him. So suffice it to say death in and of itself for a Christian is a blessing. I believe it was Paul who said "to live is Christ and to die is gain" I can only imagine that what he meant was to die I get to feast on the entire blessing. But obviously the implications of what Jesus was saying seems to have less to do with the coming blessing at death and more to do with how we live our lives in the present. The pastor contended that this may mean that "I may need to say no to some things created to say yes to the Creator." He went on to explain our selfishness and how we worship not just idols of many kinds but also ourselves when we act so selfishly. So my question is how do we practically say no to created things without becoming legalistic? For legalism in and of itself can yet again become another form of idolatry for it is the opposite of humility? I have some thoughts as to this but am curious what others might think. Take a second and jot down your thoughts.

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