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Pleasure

Oats

Oats

Member
Why does everyone think the best life is a life of pleasure?

Having the best time all the time...getting the best out of everything and being "Rich!"

I think the best thing is a life of learning wisdom and growing and honoring God...

Examples


A life of pleasure would be going to the bar every night to drink...Then doing some vials of coke...and going to his mansion to fornicate.
or

Joining a gang of thieves an hoarding neighbor hoods for money to support your life
This you can of course learn from but you inadvertently lose a lot.

--
A life of learning may be taking a hike through the woods and reflecting on your views about reality and examining your reasons for enjoying pleasure. Then going for a jog and reading your favorite book.



Now some of you will say-- why not both

But when your motivation is God you don't have to worry about your own folly because you are forgiven.

As Christians we are disciples, which is related to the word discipline.

Now lets think about it like this age old analogy


A jar of candy sits on a counter. Now there is a child who wants that candy. He calls his mother right before bed and ask for five pieces (he'll accept no less). Now the mother being a good Mother doesn't want her child to get cavities so she gives him one piece and a cup of cranberry juice (discipline). The child gets irate because he believes that candy (pleasure) is good and he should have it.

Would it be better for a child to have the candy?

or

Think about the benifits of going without it and being patient?




A life motivated by pleasure truly has none


a life of Prudence produces pleasure


---------

What do you think?
 
I think you got it and your 100% correct.

To answer your question, why do people seek a life of pleasure, or think it's the source of happiness, is because they think they are in charge of their lives. They are unaware that they are not.

I'm answering this from my own experiences, and where I am now in my life. It would be better if we could learn this lesson without trial and error, or at least I think it would.
 
Danus said:
I think you got it and your 100% correct.

To answer your question, why do people seek a life of pleasure, or think it's the source of happiness, is because they think they are in charge of their lives. They are unaware that they are not.

I'm answering this from my own experiences, and where I am now in my life. It would be better if we could learn this lesson without trial and error, or at least I think it would.
Click to expand...


Christ did not believe in living for pleasure. But he was a lamb for the sluaghter.


No pleasure here can compare to the Joys of heaven....if anything take joy in serving others...

No matter who they are1
 
I like your signature oats. I think maybe life has seasons when you are younger you might as well enjoy a few years they are a fter all fun. there is a time and a place nfior all things. When i look at my life my favorite times are in nature and when i had no money and enjoyed simple things. I still prefer that now.

money brings worry not happiness.
financial security helpsbrings calm not lasting joy.

calm at whatever stage of life brings time for spiritual things, spiritual security brings inner happiness the outside world has less effect on.

I love this guy whoever wrote Ecclesiastes he must have been a funny guy i think he would have had the driest sense of humour. I often think of this verse whenever i think of life's times.


Ecclesiastes 3:1-15



There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17362">2</sup> a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17363">3</sup> a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17364">4</sup> a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17365">5</sup> a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17366">6</sup> a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17367">7</sup> a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17368">8</sup> a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17369">9</sup> What do workers gain from their toil? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17370">10</sup> I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17371">11</sup> He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-17371a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;>a</a>]">[a]</sup> no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17372">12</sup> I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17373">13</sup> That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17374">14</sup> I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17375">15</sup> Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-17375b&quot; title=&quot;See footnote b&quot;>b</a>]">[b]</sup>
 
Chris said:
I like your signature oats. I think maybe life has seasons when you are younger you might as well enjoy a few years they are a fter all fun. there is a time and a place nfior all things. When i look at my life my favorite times are in nature and when i had no money and enjoyed simple things. I still prefer that now.

money brings worry not happiness.
financial security helpsbrings calm not lasting joy.

calm at whatever stage of life brings time for spiritual things, spiritual security brings inner happiness the outside world has less effect on.

I love this guy whoever wrote Ecclesiastes he must have been a funny guy i think he would have had the driest sense of humour. I often think of this verse whenever i think of life's times.


Ecclesiastes 3:1-15



There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17362">2</sup> a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17363">3</sup> a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17364">4</sup> a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17365">5</sup> a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17366">6</sup> a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17367">7</sup> a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17368">8</sup> a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17369">9</sup> What do workers gain from their toil? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17370">10</sup> I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17371">11</sup> He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-17371a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;>a</a>]">[a]</sup> no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17372">12</sup> I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17373">13</sup> That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17374">14</sup> I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17375">15</sup> Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-17375b&quot; title=&quot;See footnote b&quot;>b</a>]">[b]</sup>
Click to expand...


It was possibly Solomon...who wrote that
 
You're right Oats ... :) ... not everyone wants to be rich though ...
 
There's more than one type of pleasure you know you have euphoric short lived pleasures then you have other pleasures that come with a sense of wholeness or completion.

People living the life you described ie Narcotics + party life are in my experience desperatly sad and while it's not a bad thing to enjoy yourself once in awhile doing something you enjoy (Although I don't condone hard drugs) you shouldn't use it to try and fill your whole life.
 
Whoever wants to be a disciple of Jesus must take up his cross daily, lay down his life, and forsake all that he has (Luke 14).
 
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