The highest good
Reviewing the summer I can’t help but question my philosophy of “fun” with the kids. It dawned on me last week that while I’ve been seeking to get the most out of our summer vacation that I’ve actually perhaps fallen into the trap of hedonism and pleasure seeking rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God both for myself and my children.
It began with a scripture that kept poking my conscience and producing questions as to the value of the things we’re filling our schedules with. Ironically, I’ve not read this passage for quite some time, but the Lord placed it upon my heart day in and day out this past week.
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ~2Timothy 3:2-5
I am. I am a lover of pleasure. Every day I wake up and do my favorite activity – a workout usually. Then I eat. Next I decide what my kids and I can do that day that will produce the most fun and pleasure in our lives. Many days I skip devotions for myself as well as with them. We’ll get back to that when it’s time for school…we’re on summer vacation…So I spend all my money and time doing what is the least difficult and the most pleasurable…for me.
…but can’t I be a lover of pleasure and a lover of God? And don’t we all love ourselves? Is it really an either/or kind of requirement here, Lord? Don’t we all seek to avoid pain and hold on to pleasure as long as time allows? My sinful nature insists that this is a ridiculous argument. I’m doing things that are healthful and happy – how could they be wrong?
We are watching a study in Sunday school by R.C. Sproul and it again confirmed my thoughts on this subject this week. Sproul defined hedonism this way: “Living in such a way that the purpose of life is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain – pleasure seekers. Hedonism is the narcotic of choice for those who have no hope.” Webster’s says this: 1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good. 2. devotion to pleasure as a way of life.
As I listened to his definition I saw myself. As I listened to his after comment my heart sank. “Hedonism is the narcotic of choice for those who have no hope.” Those who have NO HOPE. That’s not me…so why do I fit the definition of such a one? I could appease my conscience and say it’s because I’m an American…but anyone who knows the Holy Spirit knows that that just won’t do. Webster gets to the heart of the matter defining it as the belief that happiness is the highest good. Fun is good, but it is not the highest good and should never be treated as so.
So herein lies problem…there are much better things I could be doing if I weren’t so self-focused. The lack of sacrifcial giving of my time and money is creating a vaccuum where I am becoming more and more sucked into a narcissistic lifestyle. So the answer is “No.” You cannot be both a lover of pleasure and a lover of God. You have to pick one. Every single decision I make from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed will be one either for the furtherance of the Kingdom or the furtherance of myself. Thankfully I serve a God that promises that when I choose the former, He will give the latter…but He must be first. I pray His grace will work in me more to bring me to that place.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.~Matthew 6:33
As I studied more in Psalm 1 I found more characteristics of a righteous person.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night~Psalm 1:2
The more this person studies God’s Word, the more he loves it. He loves what is right, and, though seeing his our failings in light of the truth, he strives to confrom to that truth.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.~Psalm 1:3
One who does this will have evidence of his faith (fruit) and will lack nothing necessary for growth and refreshment. No matter what he is doing – working, recreation, grocery shopping or, my personal favorite, running or mountain climbing, he will constantly be growing and producing more fruit for the glory of the Lord.
So have fun! Get the max out of your summer vacation! But don’t do it at the expense of your spiritual life like I did. Love the Word of God more than rest and relaxation and delight in it…there is no more exciting or pleasurable thing to do!