LOVE THE LORD MORE THAN PLEASURE
The Lord Jesus Christ gave up the pleasures of heaven, and was tempted with all earthly pleasures like we are, but without sin to accomplish our salvation from sin.(Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 4:15; John 3:16). The Lord has great desire for a loving relationship with us, wherein we love him more than anything else, with all our hearts, souls and minds (Luke 10:27).
Jesus gave his life for us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). And he continues to give us many good things to enjoy and enhance our lives (Romans 8:32). Yet in a relationship wherein we love the Lord with all our hearts, it would require us to deny ourselves things of the world that are not of God–To take up our cross and follow the Lord (Luke 9:23).
The Bible cautions against things of the world that are not of God: “The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and a pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
SCRIPTURES SHOW HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LOVING PLEASURE MORE THAN THE LORD
- King David, said to be a man after God’s own heart, was lured away from the Lord by his lust for another man’s wife, named Bathsheba. David pleasured himself in adultery with Bathsheba. After David found she was pregnant with his child, he had her husband killed. (2 Samuel 12:7-13).
- A prodigal son was lured away from a loving home by passion for pleasurable things of the world. He reached his bottom after wasting his inheritance on partying and riotous living. (Luke (5:11-24).
Yet, Lord God the Father, in his great love, forgave David and the prodigal after they repented of his sins and returned to the Lord. Nevertheless, it is not God’s will that we should continue to sin that his grace may abound (Romans 6:1-4); still the Lord forgives all who repent and confess their sins (1 John 8-9).
TODAY’S CULTURE OF LUST AND PLEASURE ATTRACTS PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE LORD
People participate in all night parties which involve drugs, alcohol and sex. Overt sexuality is often portrayed in ads, in movies and on TV. Lewd pictures and pornography are commonly displayed in the name of “Art”, which appeal to conscious and unconscious sexual instincts. Sex crimes like pedophilia, rape, sodomy and sexual enslavement appear frequently in our headlines.
A special report on drug and alcohol addictions, death, and despair appeared in a Decision magazine of the Billy Evangelistic Association. It reported that Americans are dying in record numbers for what has been called “the diseases of despair”—drug addiction, alcoholism and suicide. The report says that it reflects a culture without Christ
LOVING JESUS CHRIST MORE IS THE WAY TO OVERCOME WORLDLY ADDICTIONS.
- The Decision magazine reports that by finding Jesus Christ, many in despair have found healing, restoration and new life.
- The Lord said, I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6).
- Prayerfully seeking the Lord with all our heart, and being guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word enable us to follow and love the Lord above all else. (John 16:13, 33, Acts 1:8; 2:38).
