Exalting Pleasure – Proverbs in Practice
The Lord has created us, former procrastinators, with the capacity to enjoy Him, the world He made, and the people in it. There’s an incredible depth of delight that we can plunge into with Him. We should seek to do that and enjoy every particle of pleasure He has for us. What comes from Him is satisfying.
We are tempted, however, to settle for temporal pleasures that tease us without satisfying – even to exalt such pleasures. We choose something we think we deserve. We choose an escape. Alert! Be on guard not to make that a habit.
“Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” Proverbs 21:17.
This warns us not to prioritize self-enjoyment. Our resources will be consumed by the pursuit of pleasure. That pursuit will prevent profit in our lives.
Doing what I want to do when I want to do it leads to neglect of things I should do and consequences I’d rather not live with. Choosing to do what is enjoyable for me at every turn demonstrates shallowness of character, lack of understanding, lack of diligence. It isn’t fun to pay bills or prepare meals every day, but not doing those things leads to problems.
If I habitually avoid what needs doing in order to do what pleases me, I’ll not have the benefits that come from doing the needed things. I’ll miss those pleasures. If I go shopping instead of writing my English paper, all my pleasure will have been in the moment of avoidance. If I use the rent money to pay for a trip, I can lose my place to live. All my pleasure will have been in the “escape” which turns out to be a trap. Long term, I’ll be sorry, lacking. I’ll have burdens I could’ve avoided. Pleasure will have eaten my resources.
Specialty coffee is nice to have. Have I exalted that pleasure to “necessary”? Buying it daily adds up to a substantial cost in several areas. Do I insist on certain brands of clothing that erode my ability to give to a needy child? (Do I watch TV when I should be working on photo albums?)
Enjoy pleasures. Enjoy “wine and oil” but do not sacrifice more worthwhile things to obtain them. Let’s not develop such an appetite for them that we must have them at the expense of what matters more. Do I devote thought, time, energy, money to pleasing myself? What if I sought the Lord and devoted those resources to meaningful work? To the service of others? What deep pleasures might I know then?
Do I give up pleasure? No. Seeking Him and doing what needs doing when it needs doing, I enjoy the benefits of a job well done. I seek Him and enjoy to the fullest the satisfying joys He gives.
What pleasure are you tempted to exalt?
