By Emilie Gruben.
When the opportunity of doing good comes with two outcomes, many choose the one that directly benefits themselves. A cash prize, a spotlight interview, a moment of recognition. All rewards for things that can range from small to large, in impact and depth. It’s easier to sacrifice your free time when service hours are a reward in themselves. Doing good deeds is better when you can record yourself, and post it to your accounts, making your “goodness” and selfless heart be visible to the entire world. Doing hard things, even when meant for others, is often only to give ourselves a sense of purpose. A sense of self-worth. Pleasure. When do we stop living for self and pleasure? Especially under the guise of goodness?
The world is a place of pleasure. Much like the island in the classic story ‘Pinocchio,’ there are places dedicated to the spontaneous enjoyment of individuals and groups. Casinos, bars, clubs, and theatres alike, can offer pleasure to their occupants. These places are easier to hear about and imagine sinful pleasure or company taking place within. However, we are less forward when thinking about places like the workplace, department stores, friends’ homes, our devices, or even our hobbies. Our time gets taken away by the hours we spend on our phones, at our jobs, and with those whom we choose to make our companions. We don’t actively pursue things that make us feel bad, get tired, or cause us to work with no reward. Who normally would?
Pleasure is not just sinful lusts, extravagance, or expensive venues and possessions. It is comfort in the home that takes priority over chores and responsibility to your family. Pleasure can be the mindset in which you choose to take time away from a stressful situation, when you desperately need to make decisions without selfish inclinations. Our own pleasure and comfort cannot come first. There are many reasons why. But a few of the most important are as follows.
Sin is wonderful in comparison to God’s will. It is always so much simpler to shrug off responsibility. To make that rude quip. To roll your eyes and walk away, instead of asking forgiveness and taking a deep breath. Even when it is easier to do good, we choose to do evil. When not actively living for Christ, we surround ourselves with people who choose self over all else. II Tim. 3:1-5, reads:
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” Yet even when goodness is so clearly set apart, for us, we don’t listen. Our disregard of guidance leads us to our own downfall. Even when pursuing selfish desires, we fail!
None of our efforts result in anything but shortcomings. Our money runs out, our designer clothes fall apart, our sinful relationships crumble when reality hits, and our souls feel the gut-wrenching guilt that the Lord places upon them because of our disobedience. Pleasure lasts, but never for long. Worldly goods only last for long enough to have our hearts be given away, before sin goes to work to destroy. In Matt. 6:19-21, we are told what things will last, and as Christians, what is not ours to pursue. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Worldly materials will never offer us anything but temporary happiness. Where our intentions and attractions are drawn, our souls will find home.
So, pleasure is not rewarding. It traps and ensnares passions and interests. It draws people away from Christ, the family, and the home. It strengthens selfishness and dulls the mind. There is no “true purpose” found in pleasure. Joy and goodness are absent. Why is this so? Because God is not found in the simple sensation of pleasure. And God, Himself, is the only true joy and happiness. That does not mean that Christians never feel good, never have fun, always remain depressed, and are chaste, prude individuals. No, of course not. But it does set them apart from all other people-their belief in Christ. We must ask ourselves: are we here on this earth to be happy? When so many of our Christian brethren are persecuted and killed for their faith, are we to blissfully live our lives with no deep thoughts? Of course not! But we aren’t to be weighed down by sin, either-overthinking everything.
Loving God is separate from the world. Not having to choose one or the other. Our purpose is to serve God, whether He grants us pleasure and blessings, or heartache and trials. The Lord is gracious to us. Some of us will be more fortunate than others. There will be Christians who live lives of “pleasure” and others who struggle each day. Some will have grand houses, and others less than a shed. But not one is more favored in the sight of God, than the other. We are both to be in awe of Christ, driven to praise Him.
Ps. 11:2-4. “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.”
To live in Christ is pleasure. When all else falls away, all that remains in Christ is steadfast. The story of the Prodigal Son comes to mind. When a lifestyle of pleasure was lived, and a fortune wasted away, all that remained was guilt and a longing for the things that could not be lived or spontaneously enjoyed. Family, faith, and love. Even if our lives have previously been lived for pleasure, or we find ourselves somehow “balancing” self and Christ, alongside each other; forgiveness and a godly lifestyle are always an option. You cannot live half-heartedly in Christ, to still get “the best of both worlds.” That doesn’t work. As Charles Spurgeon once wrote… “If you profess to be a Christian, yet find full satisfaction in worldly pleasures and pursuits, your profession is false.” Complete, honest submission of life and self to God is vital before you ever see or experience the virtues that the Word promises.
Ps. 149:1-4 says “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”
The Lord glorifies those who praise Him, as commanded. He rejoices in their obedience. When we delight ourselves in His goodness for our assurance and contentment, then we truly have peace and pleasure. This last verse really captures the calm that we can find in salvation, that rivals any amount of pleasure the world could ever offer.
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