How to Conquer the Love of Pleasure

Introduction:Helping People Who Lust After PleasureIn second Timothy 3, we read a long list of the various descriptions of people who willmark the last days. Verse 4 in this passage speaks of those who are “lovers of pleasurerather than lovers of God.” The original Greek word for “pleasure” in this verse maymean a good or a bad pleasure. Just think how zealous Christians would be if weserved our God with the same enthusiasm as we pursue our amusements andpleasures.What is the Inordinate Love of Pleasure?(What does the idol of pleasure look like?)1. An inordinate love of pleasure is ―wanting any pleasure that is inherentlysinful and thus forbidden by God.‖ (1 Corinthians 10:5-8)The Puritan pastor, Edward Paysen said, “Men always give up what they love theleast.”2. An inordinate love of pleasure is ―loving any pleasure in and of and foritself.‖ (1 John 2:15-17)This isn’t talking about just enjoying pleasure, but loving pleasure more than we loveGod.What is my focus of delight??? If my focus of delight is in something other than God,it is an idol.Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of yourheart.”Our focus must always be on God, not our other lesser objects of pleasure.Pleasure is the seasoning of life, not the substance.3. An inordinate love of pleasure is ―wanting any pleasure so much that I amwilling to sin in order to enjoy it, or to sin because I am not able to enjoy it.‖(James 4:1-5)Our quarrels come because of the desires that battle within our hearts. Not just anger,but anxiety, discontentment or dishonesty may reveal our love of a pleasure is to thepoint of being an idol.1

4. An inordinate love of pleasure is ―consistently preferring or delighting morein lesser pleasures than in greater ones.‖ (Colossians 3:1-4, Isaiah 5:11-12))Shopping, hobbies, entertainment, TV (the greatest pleasure idol in our society),spectator sports, video games, etc. Do you delight more in these things than in theLord?5. An inordinate love of pleasure is ―being so afraid of displeasure, thatdiscontentment arises at the first hint of boredom, broken dreams, discomfort,misfortune, pain, suffering, or other adversities.‖ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)“I must do everything possible to avoid pain.”“Being unhappy is one of the most painful feelings imaginable.”“If I’m not happy all the time, I’m not a good Christian.”“I can’t handle the thought of being unhappy for the rest of my life.”“I just can’t endure suffering.”“I can’t trust the Lord to protect me from hurt so I’ll have to do it myself.”“I can’t trust the Lord to get me through the suffering, so I’m going to avoid it at all costs.”The Apostle Paul took pleasure in those things that lovers of pleasure dread.6. An inordinate love of pleasure is an indication of not being self-controlled inall things (1 Corinthians 9:25).The issue is lack of self-control. The person who loves pleasure inordinately tends tobe feelings-oriented rather than obedience-oriented.The longer the love of pleasure grows in a heart, the greater the bondage will be.Romans 6:16-17 talks about being a slave to sin which leads to bondage and death, orbeing a slave to righteousness which leads to freedom and life.2

How toConquer the Love of Pleasure1. Make God’s Word the standard by which all of your affections are evaluated.(Hebrews 4:12)God’s Word is the standard; not society, or feelings or appetites.Consider the biblical terminology for the pleasure you are struggling with. Is thepleasure sinful or not sinful, but abused?2. Put your affections (pleasures) on trial before God in prayer. (Psalm139:23,24)Ask God to reveal the extent of loving pleasure over loving God. Spend time in prayereach day asking God about this. (Proverbs 20:27)3. Be reminded of the deceptive nature both of your own heart and of temporalpleasure. (Jeremiah 17:9; Galatians 6:7,8)The effects of sin on our minds blinds us to the sinful pleasures in our life. Make a listof all the ways that your particular pleasure has deceived you in the last 12 months.4. When in doubt as to the status of your pleasure, seek the assistance of wisebelievers—especially those who know you best. (Proverbs 15:22)Get your spouse involved or a best friend if you are single.Write down the names of 2-3 wise individuals whose counsel you could seek. Askthem to help you come up with some written limits in regards to your pleasure if it isan unsinful one.5. Get acquainted thoroughly with the potential dangers and liabilitiesassociated with your particular love. (Proverbs 27:12)The desire for pleasure and laziness often go hand in hand. Make an inventory of thetop 12 potential dangers associated with your pleasure. (i.e. wasting time and money,neglecting family, health concerns, testimony for Christ damaged, time away from theWord, bondage, church discipline, etc.)6. Consider the vanity of your beloved pleasure in light of eternity.(Ecclesiastes 2:1-10)The pleasures of this life are temporary and transitory.Write down your “pet pleasure(s).” Under this listing, draw a line with twocolumns; one for eternal benefits and one for temporal benefits. Write down3

as many benefits in each column as you can think of and bring them to sharenext session.7. Consider the extent to which you can glorify God by means of your belovedpleasure. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)Can I glorify God by watching that television program?Can I glorify God by playing that round of golf?Can I glorify God by listening to that music?Can I glorify God by eating all that food?Can I glorify God by purchasing that new gadget or garment?Can I glorify God by dating that man/woman?Can I glorify God by participating in that activity?Will I be better able to fulfill my biblical responsibilities as a result of enjoying this pleasure?Can I use this pleasure as a springboard to delight in the Lord?Can I enjoy this pleasure without violating my own conscience?Can I enjoy this pleasure without becoming a stumbling block to weaker brothers in Christ?Will others be directly or indirectly edified as a result of my enjoying this pleasure?Worldly things are provisions for our bodies. They are tools by which we do the Master’swork.8. Learn to take more pleasure in those things which are eternal than inthose which are temporal. (2 Cor.4: 16-18)In order to dethrone idols, we must think more about heaven and eternalthings. We must make earthly decisions with heaven in mind.Find one or two verses that have to do with eternity and memorize them.Meditate on them when you are tempted to return to your pleasurable idol.9. Learn to derive pleasure from doing Gods will. (Psalm 40:8)The pleasure of doing God’s will may be delayed. Joy and pleasure are supernaturalbyproducts of obedience.Make a list of all the times you have had a definite sense of pleasure in your life. Writedown five additional things you know to be God’s will for your life along with sixtemporal and six eternal pleasures associated with each one.10. God does not desire to keep you from pleasure, but rather to increase yourcapacity to enjoy the right kinds of pleasure. (Psalm 36:7–8; 1 Timothy 6:17)4