Are You Addicted to Pleasure?

There is a saying, “Everything I enjoy is either illegal, immoral, or fattening.”  For some, that’s probably true; and they live for the weekend in order to do those things because without them their lives would be boring.

 

Is it ok to enjoy pleasure?  Did Jesus our Lord ever enjoy pleasure?  Are there godly pleasures that we can enjoy, or is it only the illicit ones that give us a thrill?

 

While it is true that some pleasures will take away our freedom (Titus 3:3) and others that will take away our money (Prov. 21:17), there are many pleasures which are God-given for us to enjoy:

 

The Pleasure of Praise to God, (Psalm 135:3). The pleasure comes from the joy of God’s Spirit in us, and may involve music, singing, and dancing.

 

The Pleasure of Fellowship with God’s People, (Psalm 133:1). There is great joy when are united as one.  The pleasure of David’s friendship with Jonathan was sweet, even though a hostile father was trying to break them apart.

 

The Pleasure of Wisdom and Knowledge, (Proverbs 22:17,18).  It is a great joy to understand how the application of God’s truth to life’s situations brings success in our endeavors.

 

The Pleasure of God’s Revelation to Humble People, (Luke 10:21). This was a specific pleasure that our Lord enjoyed, to see the Spirit working in and through His disciples notwithstanding the fact that they had no formal education.

 

Worldly pleasures end quickly, give us headaches, and pile guilt and regret upon us.  Godly pleasures have no sorrow attached to them.