Lovers of Pleasure

 

 

Something to think about.

 

Lovers of pleasure.

 

Living for the weekend. When I was an employee, it was the battle cry of the week. We would have hump day, Wednesday, halfway to our prize of the weekend. The weekend represented a time of relaxation, pleasure, and fun. It was and is an oasis from true life. It was a time when we could indulge in entertainment whatever that meant.

 

Now as I look at life around me it seems to be the goal of our existence. Everywhere you look everyone seems to be in the pursuit of pleasure. We are all looking for the next good time. The next thrill, whether it be the next video game, movie, vacation, theme park, or beach. We chase after booze, drugs, artificial physical states. We have become lovers of pleasure. It is the goal. It is the purpose of our lives. The only thing that matters is the attainment of that which is pleasurable.

 

Pleasure is on a list of undesirable characteristics of the last days. The list as a whole is quite undesirable. If taken in context, the list is quite repulsive. Included in the list are lovers of pleasure. Pleasure is included because when life becomes meaningless pleasure is the only thing that has meaning. When you fall into the bottomless abyss of godlessness, all value of life is loss. The only thing left is pleasure. Is that all we are, mindless, worthless, drones? In pursuit of momentary pleasure? It is included because it is the reflection of a godless society and life. This is where a godless life leads, to the pursuit of pleasure. If there is no God there is no meaning there truly is nothing to strive for. Why not enjoy your life in whatever way you choose as there is no purpose? The only logical pursuit would be to chase after those things that make us momentarily happy. The pursuit of pleasure is aptly described in the verse by the characteristics that come before "lovers of pleasure."

 

Then it says, "Avoid such people."

 

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5