In Pursuit of Pleasure

In Pursuit of Pleasure

Growing up in a traditional Pentecostal church, I received considerable instruction concerning the "worldly pleasures" I should avoid. I do not recall any suggestion that a Christian might find pleasures in the "heavenly realms." Thus, the very word “pleasure” gathered a negative connotation. Sacrifice and suffering seemed to be the lot of Christians, not pleasure!

Further, after years of Christian life and ministry, I have concluded that the pursuit of pleasure does dominate the lives of most unbelievers while contending continually for the attention of many believers. It’s very easy for me to believe that these are the “perilous times” of the “last days” of which Paul spoke, days in which people are in fact “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” It makes sense that lovers of God would not be lovers of pleasure!

How about another look at pleasure? Two preliminary thoughts . . .

First, our God understands pleasure. He frequently stepped back from His creative handiwork and said, “It is good!” The Word of God reports many people, events, and circumstances in which God found pleasure. The New Testament encourages Believers to “please” God. No problem with the possibility of giving God pleasure!

Second, we human beings seem to be wired for pleasure. I believe the capacity for pleasure is one of many features we have gained from being made in His image and likeness. The first man and woman were placed in a garden designed for their pleasure. Eden must have been a pleasant place. Grandma Eve recognized the potential for pleasure while gazing at the forbidden fruit. That’s when pleasure revealed its dark side.

Has pleasure become altogether evil, or just the pursuit of it?

My thinking has been jostled by John Piper in his book entitled Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. (The book was a gift from my friend, Keith Heermann.) In the seventh chapter, he used the phrase “Christian hedonism”, a concept he introduced in a previous book. It made me think!

The "Westminster Shorter Catechism" begins with this: "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

Enjoy God? I don’t ordinarily look at the Christian life from that perspective, but considering the wealth of scripture offering and encouraging joy and rejoicing, it really does make sense.

Could the life of a fully devoted disciple of Jesus be legitimately described as “the pursuit of pleasure in the heavenly realms”? Is this what Jesus was encouraging with “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”? Is there truly unparalleled pleasure in the kingdom that is “at hand” still today?

This is what the Spirit had in mind when the Psalmist wrote, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11) Let’s not assume this speaks only of a future condition, after life as we know it on earth. We enjoy his presence now! We are now at His right hand in Christ.

Can I pursue pleasure in the realm of the effective reign of my Heavenly Father without jeopardizing or minimizing His pleasure in and over me?

I have found that Sandra, my dear wife of 40 years, is a source of great pleasure. But, I have experienced the greatest pleasure in Sandra when I have been relatively successful in pleasing her. (I’m not talking about sex, although the principle applies.) Pleasure is actually something we share, with mutual responsibility and privilege.

In Romans 12, Paul’s appeal is twofold . . . offer yourselves completely to God as living sacrifices AND be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The promised result is, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” I have generally assumed that the words “good, pleasing, and perfect” were for God’s benefit, but the “good, pleasing, and perfect” are for us too!

Worldly pleasures? Bah, humbug! The pursuit of pleasure finds its richest fulfillment in a life devoted to the will of God!

What do you think?