What Good Does It Do To Seek Only Pleasure?
Tuesday November 19, 2013
Step One: We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies, that our lives had become unmanageable.
Solomon, known as one of the wisest men who ever lived, accomplished much in life. But even he had to come to a point of realizing his limits and his inability to do anything to bring meaning and purpose to his existence.
I (Solomon) said to myself, “Come now, let’s give pleasure a try. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. “It is silly to be laughing all the time,” I said. “What good does it do to seek only pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine … I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards … I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. (From Ecclesiastes 2 NLT)
Solomon's life is a clear example to us that seeking pleasure for pleasure's sake is a recipe for disaster. We experience deep and satisfying pleasure and contentment only as a result of living as God has created us to live. Rather than running after momentary and fleeting passions and pleasure, we find fulfillment as we live in relationship with God. We are created to know God, to love God, and to serve God. Our deepest longings and our desire for meaning is satisfied when we give our lives to God and follow the way of life He shows us.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 NLT
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. Proverbs 10:23 NLT
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
Today is a good day to admit that our way of living to please ourselves has resulted only in addictive and destructive life habits. Today is also a good day to agree with God that He has what we need in order to experience life in a way that is good, pleasing and perfect.
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