Lesser Pleasures

For some Christians the simple idea of pleasure is suspect. We don't seek pleasure. That's bad. We seek ... well, something else. And we know this because we can read wise sayings from the Bible like "Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man" (Prov 21:17). We are warned that in the last days men will be "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim 3:4). We know that some of the seed falls on thorny soil and is "choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life" (Luke 8:14). Bad. We know it's wrong to be "slaves to various passions and pleasures" (Titus 3:3). So some conclude "Pleasure = Bad" and we end up at the stoic, sour-faced Christian stereotype.

On the other hand, this becomes problematic if we take all of Scripture seriously. We read, for instance, "Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding" (Prov 10:23). Solomon argues that "everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil -- this is God's gift to man" (Ecc 3:13). David writes to God, "In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psa 16:11). Apparently, then, it is not pleasure that is the problem. It is what brings you pleasure.

The psalmist says that the blessed (that's pleasurable, isn't it?) man is marked by having delight in the law of the Lord. We are told to "Delight yourself in the Lord." In the list that is the fruit of the Spirit we find joy and we are, in fact, commanded to "rejoice evermore". No, that's not sufficient. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul writes, "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord" (Phil 3:1). Not satisfied with that, he repeats it: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice" (Phil 4:4). He tells the Thessalonians, "Rejoice always" (1 Thess 5:16) because, among other things, "this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:18).

Pleasure, you see, is not the enemy. Our problem is not a love of pleasure. Our problem is that we are too easily satisfied with lesser pleasures. We find pleasure in lust when the greater pleasure is in genuine love. We find pleasure in material goods when the greater pleasure is in heavenly treasures. Some (too many) find pleasure in pornography which robs them of real pleasure found in genuine love and godly relationships. And, of course, in all things there is a still higher pleasure -- the ultimate pleasure.

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:18).

There is the highest of pleasure. If we delight in the Lord, there can be no higher joy. Lesser pleasures become boring and pointless when we have an eye to the abundant joy of our relationship with Christ. Paul counts them as trash.

Are you delighting in trash or are you seeking genuine pleasure? Are you satisfied with dung (the King James word) or is your real joy found in Him? Seriously, are you happy with stuff when you could have Christ? That would be a pitiable pleasure. Become a pleasure seeker; delight yourself in the Lord. That is surpassing value.