Two
words remain powerful in life, yet misunderstood. They're pleasure and
purpose. Myles Munroe said when the purpose of a thing is not known,
abuse is inevitable. And when a life of purpose is not lived, pleasure
becomes the order of life.
The pursuit of pleasure has become a
major distraction in the lives of many youths who have been destined
for greatness. It is sad that the subject of knowing and fulfilling
God's purpose in life isn't taught at the home front even in the church.
What many of us are familiar with is the pursuit of pleasure.
Pleasure is an activity that gives you enjoyment, that very thing you
love to do. Some like sleeping, to some it is browsing, playing games
and so on.
There are several kinds of pleasure; there is the sensual, sexual and the pursuit of vanities.
Sensual pleasures are done to gratify the physical senses, they include
looking at a man or woman to lust (pornography), erotic conversation
(the use of dirty talks by singles), indecent touches and so on. Sexual
pleasures relate to enjoyment derives from sexual activities such as
kissing, caressing each other's sexual organs, smooching etc; done by
singles or as an extramarital affair by the married.
There is a
pleasure that is not associated with sex or sensual in nature. These
includes watching movies for hours, surfing the internet or chatting on
social media, unprofitable talks and arguments on football, politics,
playing games, partying, sleeping too much, excessive care of the body,
spending unproductive hours with boyfriends or girlfriends, busy but not
adding value to one's destiny etc.
Many people are victims of
one or more of these pleasures and these would hinder them from
fulfilling God's purpose for their life if they do not do anything about
them. Daniel did something in his days, "But Daniel purposed in his
heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with
the wine which he drank" (Dan. 1:8). Will you determine in your heart
not to defile yourself with the portion of the pleasure that is
prevalent in your days? It is wise you do if you want to make it in
life.
Paul said this to Timothy about pleasure and it focuses on the female folks.
"She that loves pleasure is dead while she lives" (1 Tim. 5:6).
And the Book of Proverbs addresses males. "He that loves pleasure shall
be a poor man; he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich" (Prov.
21:17).
You will never fulfill God's purpose for your life if
you love pleasure and you can never serve God in your generation if you
defile yourself with the pleasure that destroys the life of many.
To what extent has the pursuit of pleasure eaten you up in life? You
can't be the best in life if any of these pleasure activities finds
expression in your heart.
Pleasure destroys. You can't
compare what you lose pursuing pleasure with the little you gain. You
lose your productive life - mental, physical and strength on frivolity.
What takes up the largest percentage in your use of time on daily basis?
More so, examine your love for God. If you spend more time loving
pleasure, your love for God is questionable. We are in the age where
people love pleasure than God and we expect God to reveal Himself to us.
You can't spend more time pursuing pleasure and expect God to use you
like He did use the Apostles or contemporary Christians in history and
in our days.
The greatness of a man is to a large extent
determined by the productive use of his time. You can't compare the
greatness attained by those who spend more time doing productive
activities with those who pursue pleasure. He rewards those who
diligently seek Him than those who seek Him pleasurably.
According to Longfellow, heights attained by great men is not achieved
by sudden flight. They did so by toiling through the night while their
mates are busy sleeping and wasting their time.
While men
slept, the enemy came and he met some people sleeping; at the same time,
he came but he met some toiling at night - investing their time in
studying, strategizing or praying.
This is the time to call
ourselves to order especially as youths. If you don't determine in your
heart not to defile yourself with the pursuit of pleasure and use your
time wisely, you'll amount to nothing in life. You don't wish greatness.
You don't pray greatness but you attain it through discipline and
compliance to the necessary laws.
This is the heart cry of God
to us in this generation. Be serious with your destiny and eternity.
Seek God passionately in this time of your youth. God is seeking for
those who would diligently seek Him and not abuse their lives with
pleasure.
Your youthful life is not a period to 'catch fun'
or 'enjoy life'; it's a time to labor and invest into your destiny so
that you won't regret your life at old age. And you can't maximize your
youthful life if you do not give God your best time as youths.
Are you a lover of pleasure more than the lover of God?
"She that loves pleasure is dead while she yet live" - 1 Timothy 5:6
"He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich" - Proverbs 21:17
"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute" - Proverbs 12:24
"I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth,
therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also [is] vanity" -
Ecclesiastes 2:1
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" - Ecclesiastes 12:1
© Oluwamayowa Adeniyi 2017
Comments
Post a Comment