God gives us many pleasures in life to enjoy. Yet, while enjoying life’s pleasures, we must never let our love for pleasure compete with our love of God thus disempowering us.
2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! ( 2 Tim 3)
In His Parable of the Seeds, Jesus teaches us that the love of pleasure disempowers because it chokes our faith in His word.
14 As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8)
Pleasures will choke our faith when we allow them to lead us in our decision making.
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures (Titus 3)
Being led by our pleasures can indeed turn us into disobedient enslaved fools. There are enough food, alcohol, drug, gaming, sex, work, and power addicts who bear witness to this! Loving pleasures can turn us into self-centred mini-gods.
8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,
who sit securely, who say in your heart,
“I am, and there is no one besides me” (Isaiah 47)
The word ‘pleasure’ comes from the word ‘to please’. We were created to please God and not the other way around. We find our best pleasure when we live for His pleasure. Try it, you’ll love it… Him.
Denis Oliver