Basic HTML Version
disobedient to their parents, un–
grateful, unholy, inhuman, impla–
cable, slanderers, proftigates, fierce,
haters of good, treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of plea–
sure rather than /overs of God,
(II Timothy 3:1-4, RSV).
A warning about making pleasure
tbe paramount aim and purpose of
life was also issued by the prophet
Amos, who lived over 2,500 years
ago. Amos tbundered , " Woe to
those lounging in luxury" (Amos
6: l ,
The Living Bible).
His words,
directed to the people of ancient Je–
rusalem and Samaria, are equally
applicable, in principie, to an af-
6uent Western world.
Amos continued, "You lie on iv–
ory beds surrounded wíth luxury,
eating the meat of the tenderest
lambs and the cboicest calves. You
sing idle songs.... You drink wine
by tbe bucketful and perfume your–
selves with sweet ointments, caring
nothing at all that your brothers
need your help" (Amos 6:4-6,
The
Living Bible).
Amos detected tbe real problem.
Today, many, in their pursuit of
pleasure, ignore the harsh realities
of the bitter plights of millions who
cannot afford luxuries. But even
worse, while pursuing personal plea–
sure and sensual deligbt, they begin
to ignore and forget God!
While it is not wrong to enjoy
pleasures at the rigbt time, in the
right place, we sbould always re–
member the admonition of an an–
cient king:
" For if a roan líves many years,
let bim rejoice in them all ; but let
him remember that the days of
darkness will be many. All that
comes is vanity.
"Rejoice, O young roan, in your
youth, and let your heart cheer you
in the days of your youth; walk in
tbe ways of your heart and the sight
of your eyes. But know tbat for all
these things God will bring you into
j udgment" (Ecclesiastes 11 :8-9 ,
RSV).
16
The Missing Dimension
in Pleasure
Those who have put pleasure first
in life, who spend multiple hours
watclüng television, spor ts , and
movies, who wbile away tbeir time
in the reckless pursuít of pleasure,
and yet, who never really feel ful–
filled, don't realize that they have
overlooked tbe greatest pleasure of
all - spiritual pleasure which comes
from knowing God and having
daily contact with Him.
Only spiritual pleasure can fill the
emptiness, tbe vacuum, the terrible
void that exists in the lives of many
people. Only contact witb God, who
seems to be so remote to most mod–
ems, will truly satisfy.
To those who haven't found the
spiritual dimension that produces
reallasting pleasure and happiness,
God says: "Ho, every one who
thirsts, come to the waters; and he
who has no money, come, buy and
eat! Come, buy wine and
rnilk
with–
out money and without price"
(Isaiab 55: l , RSV) .
God asks, "Why do you spend
your money for that wbicb is not
bread, and your labor for tbat which
does not satisfy? Hearken diligently
to me, and eat what is good, and
delight yourselves in fatness" (verse
2, RSV).
God is not against pleasure. He is
not a stero, strict, humorless tyrant
- an austere, morose Victorian
prude. God created the beauty of
the mountains, seashores, sandy
beaches, colorful ftowers, gorgeous
sunsets, majestic canyons. He cre–
ated human beings with the senses
of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and
sight. He meant for them to be used
and enjoyed!
But above all, God wants us to
enjoy the spiritual pleasures that
come from obedience to His way of
life. God wants His people to pros–
per and enjoy life (III John 2). But
He wants us to enjoy life throughout
all etemity. David wrote: "Thou
dost sbow me the path of life; in thy
presence there is fulness of joy, in
thy right hand are pleasures for
evermore" (Psalm 16: 11 , RSV) .
These are the pleasures truly
worth seeking!
l
know, and so do aU those who
share in the true, spiritual riches.
Many years ago,
1
was a frustrated,
sometimes unhappy young roan . [
didn' t know what life was all about.
l
saw the trauma of divorce occur–
ring to those close to me. Life
seemed to be futile, empty. No ac–
tivity or vacation could long erase
the inconsolable yearning for some–
thing more meaningful to life.
But then
l
found the real answer
- the true explanations for life's
sufferings, trials, and continua!
problems.
1
found a source of
delight, joy, and happiness which
transcended physical pleasures.
M
y life took on new meaning. Ex–
per iences began to ha ve more
depth , richness, and significance.
Life itself became thrilling and joy–
ful because Ilearned what it means
to have Godas a Father,
to
whom
I
could speak in prayer, and to have
His Holy Spirit, wbich He offers to
all.
God's Holy Spirit is the " living
water" that Isaiah and Jesus spoke
of (lsaiah 55: l ; John 7:37-39). Jesus
carne so that mankind could have
life and have it more abundantly
(John lO: 10). And that abundant
life comes through partaking of the
very Spirit of God, which is the
spirit of "love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness ,
gentleness, self-control" (Galatians
5:22-23, RSV) .
That Holy Spirit is available to
you, if you are willing to obey God
and keep the commandments which
He ordained for our welfare. Write
for our article "This Is the Life -
Real Abundant Living," and tbe
booklet
Why Were You Born?
They
will show you how you can experi–
ence and enjoy the deepest and
most meaningful pleasures life has
to offer!
o
PLAIN TRUTH April 1973