I’m a big fan of romantic comedies, but if I watch another movie where hedonism (the search for pleasure) is the final answer, I might scream.
I already talked about how sex isn’t everything. Well, on a related point, neither is pleasure. The adage, “Do what makes you happy” might well define our culture, but that doesn’t make it right or true.
I think for any of us who have tried to follow this (and I think most have at one point or another) find that the pleasures that we seek never fully satisfy, are never enough. Just like the alcoholic wants one more drink, and Rockefeller, one of the richest men of his time, says that enough money is “just a little bit more,” we want “just a little bit more” of whatever we’ve determined will make us happy. If it’s someone, we might smother them. If it’s something, we might poison ourselves or drown ourselves in debt to get it.
Instead of pursuing my own pleasures (and I’m more than willing to admit that I do that all too often), I’d rather seek to obey the greatest commandments:
” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39
And perhaps I’ll stick to 24.
Photo by mandj98
Do I get to be first this morning…great. I will try not to mispell any words today. Since I am more than likely the oldest, let’s say, more mature, of your responders…I have looked for pleasure many times, many years. I am in such a place in my life now, since I have turned my life over to our Lord and Savior. I know it is all in HIS HANDS and that is where I want it to be. Oh yes, I do have concerns, however, I have no worries…My life is HIS.
It really is so very easy to fall into the mentality of our culture that happiness is key. I see so many Oprah show commercials featuring different ways to make yourself happy, healthy, and live longer. Well, quite frankly, I can be (and usually am) happy in our Lord, relatively healthy, and I don’t want to live longer. I want to leave this earth when God is ready for me to.
It’s no wonder we fall into the trap of “do what makes you happy” when we’re constantly bombarded by it in almost every single movie, tv show, and advertisement. I love that passage that you quoted from Matthew. It’s one that I cling to when my faith is the weakest. I know that if I just obey those two commands the rest will fall into place.
Good post, Ronnica. It reminds of this famous passage from C.S. Lewis’ Weight of Glory:
“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Hi Ronnica! Thanks so much! I did an update post. :o)
Our society really caters to, fosters and implants the “me, me, me… more, more, more” ambitious pursuits. It’s definitely tough to remain free from that ill conception.
Personally, I struggle with loving on some ‘neighbors’. Man, why is it those who need the most love are the hardest to even offer an ounce to!?!?!?!!
Definitey stick to 24! Gibbs watches and loves it. Because I don’t watch it, he tells me all about it. lol
Excellent post as always! One thing I’ve found is that the things that I want the most, when humbly given to God and seeking Him first, turn out to be far better versions of the things I desire. So it’s not as though my desires are bad, nor that I shouldn’t be diligent in pursuing those things that I desire, just that I need to have the proper perspective, as well as being able to keep it all in an open hand, so that God may refine and improve them.
By the way, I posted a brief paraphrase of Romans on my blog…thought you might be interested in checking it out – let me know what you think!
I am not that old, but I have done a lot in the past 10 years (especially after college graduation). And I can say that, while it was fun at the time, none of it brought lasting happiness. It was fun while it lasted, but afterward…meh.
But here is a link to some information I thought might interest you. Some missionaries we support in Mexico have started this, and it looks pretty cool.
http://www.biblebee.org/
On the flip side, I’ve found that in nearly all cases, true pleasure comes in moderation. I’m not above seeking pleasure, but feel that especially in our society, many people don’t realize that real pleasure isn’t in getting the MOST of something, but in getting a little. One piece of chocolate is perfect…100 gives you a stomach ache in the short-term, and ruins your health in the long-term. Enough money so that you don’t have to worry about losing your home or feeding your family is perfect, but so much that you’re wasting it on $75,000 cars that get 10 miles to the gallon and $750 pairs of shoes isn’t good for anyone. Sex with one partner you love is wonderful, but the fleeting pleasure of sex with a long line of virtual strangers can’t bring the same true happiness of the emotional connection that is expressed through sex with someone you love.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t think it’s wrong to seek pleasure, but I try to find that pleasure in moderation; in ways that benefit not just me but also my family, my friends, my community, the environment, etc. I guess it’s not quite the same kind of pleasure as the hedonistic quest for pleasure you’re talking about :)
Very well said. I definitely think that our society is way too focused on individual pleasure and not as much as it should be on making others happy and following what God would want us to do and how He would want us to treat others. It really is a shame. It’s good to see that there are other people who still realize this fact and are not happy with it.
@G. Zoe: Exactly…our lives are not our own.
@Elizabeth: It’s amazing how many places I’ve seen it this past week since I’ve been thinking about it (and I know I’m not catching them all!).
@Barry: I love that quote!
@Irish: How can you not watch it? I don’t watch it on TV though, I wait for it to come out on DVD…I can’t handle the suspense!
@K-Lai: I like the idea of removing the focus off of my desires altogether.
@Jacki: I think you summed it up…so much is fun while it lasted, but that’s it. There’s simply so much more.
@WhatACard: Moderation is something I struggle with!
@Caity: I think we’ve more or less lost any sense of community as well. Makes it hard to teach that it’s not all about you, when that’s exactly what we’re saying.
Ronnica – Great post with an AMEN from a mom of kids. John Piper speaks about this frequently in his books and I’d bet anything you’re a Piper fan! My daughter is in a Bible study right now and they are using his book, “Future Grace.”
Actually, I’m not a Piper fan. That’s not to say I’m NOT a fan, but that I’m not ACTUALLY a fan. I’ve read a few of his books and he has some good stuff to say, but there are several points I disagree with him. I respect him a lot though.
i just fear that people are always looking for the next thing to make them happy. if i get this job, i’ll be happy. if i get a house, i’ll be happy. if i get married, i’ll be happy. if i get a new car, i’ll be happy. if i have a kid, i’ll be happy. yet, they never seem to be. it’s like they are searching for a holy grail of happiness that does not exist. if you are not happy now, you will never be happy with anything you get.
Unfortunately, the values of Western society seem to be all about pursuing pleasure and consuming…
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Yes, this is something we are all guilty of. But the unfortunate thing about our culture is that it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged behavior. It makes me very nervous about raising a child right now.