October 21

Oct 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 17
"He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich."

The Hebrew word for 'loves' in this proverb means to have 'great affection for'. Affection is most generally related to the emotions rather than the will. In our language, the root of the word affection is the Latin word affect, which means to do. The Hebrew word for 'pleasure' means 'lightheartedness and carefree'. Thus, as we contemplate what is being said here, we are talking about being brought into carefree action through emotional influences. Sounds pretty good up to this point, doesn't it?
Affect also means to bring about change. Thus, we can assume that the love of pleasure will bring about some sort of change. The Teacher says that the change will be exhausting. It will exact some sort of cost. The big problem with people who have a great affection for carefree living is that they seldom develop a sense of responsibility. Left to their own devices, they indeed will become poor. Instead, they often turn to deceitful and sometimes criminal ways in order to sustain their carefree lifestyles. And, if they ever were to tell themselves the truth, they would have to eventually admit that it isn't so carefree after all. The love of pleasure always exacts a cost.
Why is that? Because the return on pleasure is temporal. Pleasure is pure expenditure, there is nothing given back for investment. For example: A man can go out for an evening, enjoy some fine cuisine, get heady on a bottle of fine wine, listen to some fine music, dance with an enchantingly beautiful woman and feel like he has found a bit of paradise on earth. When he awakes the next morning he has little more than a headache, a lightened wallet, and some fading memories. He has nothing in hand to invest into his future. Pleasure exhausts resources. People who place pleasure high on their values list are people who live by emotional affections, and people who take little responsibility in life. They are either going to have to 'grow up', or they will become exhausted of resources or exhaust the resources of people around them. Usually both.
God does not forbid man any pleasure in this life. In fact he encourages it in moderation. (For a rather astounding example, read Deuteronomy 14:22-27). He simply wants man to keep pleasure in perspective and He asks that we enjoy our pleasures in His presence. Pleasures are designed to share in fellowship. God enjoys our fellowship. He asks that we live balanced lives, living responsibly. Our pleasures are to be a benefit of responsible living, not a priority.
The apostle Paul sets forth this principle quite well in 1 Corinthians 6:12. It is believed that the Corinthian Church's argument was that in being saved by grace, 'everything is permissible for me.' Paul adds the law of discipleship and says, "'Everything is permissible for me' - but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' - but I will not be mastered by anything." Disciples are to live in a manner that honors and glorifies their Lord. Jesus never set pleasure as a priority, yet I am sure He and His disciples enjoyed numerous pleasurable experiences together. His first recorded miracle was at a pleasurable event - a wedding reception where God's people were celebrating His goodness in His presence (John 2:1-11). Jesus turned water into wine in order that this celebration before God could continue to its appointed end. But - it did end! Jesus and His disciples never shirked their responsibilities in order to keep the party going. That would not have been beneficial. Wisdom calls us to view and to live all of life in proper perspective - even the pleasures in life.