INTRODUCTION

Many of those who find joy in pleasure are eventually overcome by seeking out further pleasures. Eventually, they find themselves carelessly given to the seeking of those pleasures. Though the warning given in Isaiah chapter 47 was directed to the “virgin daughter of Babylon” (Isaiah 47:1Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
See All...), the principle applies to everyone. A man given to pleasure often dwells carelessly until he is consumed with self. He lives as though life is a game, void of future trials, difficulties, and judgments. This is sometimes done because he does not truly give thought to future things. For others, it happens in order to avoid thinking about future things. Nevertheless, each decision is based upon how much happiness it brings, rather than how it affects others or his future. The reality is that pleasure cannot stop the outcomes that a person wishes to avoid.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Instead of helping others, the rich fool took care of himself and only focused upon how happy he was going to live. God reminded him of his real future (Luke 12:16-21 [16] And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? [18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): To be given to something is to be under its control. How can the desire for pleasure eventually control an individual? How does this often lead to greater dangers?
• Are you given to any particular pleasure? Does anything worldly control your money and consume your thoughts? Does it in any way hinder your ability to serve the Lord?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to protect you from the control of pleasure.
• Ask God to help your first desire to be to please Him.

HYMN

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

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