"Lovers Of Pleasure"

"...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:4

This verse speaks of the condition of the hearts of men in the last days. I personally believe that we are living in the day and time described by these verses. That being the case, we should examine ourselves and take inventory of our lives to make sure that we haven't fallen and become among those described here.

One area in particular I want us to look at and address is that of "loving pleasures more than we love God". None of us believe that we are included among this group... but are we? One way to find out is by taking this little test.

1) Would you rather read a novel than read the Bible?
2) Would you rather go fishing on Sunday than go to God's house?
3) Do you spend more time watching television than you do reading the Bible?
4) Do you ignore the wooing of the Holy Spirit to pray because you are watching your favorite television program?
5) Do you drop everything that you are doing when your favorite television program comes on so that you can watch it? Do you drop everything when the Lord is speaking to you to spend some time with Him?
6) Would you rather spend time with your friends than time with God?
7) Do you spend more money on various forms of entertainment- videos, going to the movies, hobbies, etc,- than you give to promote the work of the Kingdom?
8) How much time to you devote to playing computer games? How much of your time is devoted to reading God's word and praying?
9) Do you spend more time on your hobbies than you do doing the work of the Lord?
10) Do you make time to do the things you want to do by rearranging your schedule to accommodate them but you won't do the same in order to spend some quiet time with the Lord?
11) Will you ask off from work to go on a hunting trip, but not to go to church?

If your answer puts pleasures- forms of entertainment- above spending time with the Lord, then you love pleasure more than you love Him? Has the desire to be entertained and have "fun" taken you away from your first love? Am I saying that we can never have any relaxation, sit down and enjoy a decent television program, enjoy some time working on a hobby, go watch a movie, play a video game? No, I am not saying that. What I am saying is that if forms of entertainment take the place of God in your life, if they are your priority, if you spend more time, money and effort on them, if you will make room for them but you will not do the same or more for God then, yes, something is wrong and you need to make some changes. You need to repent and begin to give God the proper place- which is first place- in your life again.

Have a great day. If forms of entertainment have priority in your life over God, then you love pleasure more than you love Him.

For further reading:
2 Timothy 3
Proverbs 4:23
Exodus 20:3
Revelation 2:4,5