A Daily Purpose

Bible Study & Devotional 229

Read Today’s Assigned Passages

Guiding Scripture: Proverbs 21:17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Pleasure and Priorities

By contributing writer: Lindsey Capron

In this age of social media, the obsession with leading and living a life of luxury and pleasure has never been higher. Gone are the days of 30-minute TV segments of champagne wishes and caviar dreams with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and MTV Cribs. We have access to what can bring us pleasure and luxury 24 hours a day at the touch of a button. 

The world screams that we should throw caution to the wind, forget our responsibilities, and live like there’s no tomorrow by seeking as much pleasure as possible while looking like the hottest celebrities. There are no consequences. Just feel-good moments that take us on a high, leaving us wanting more and more until it’s never enough. 

We’ll spend, spend, spend while digging ourselves deeper into debt because of the love of luxury and pleasure. 

By debt, I don’t just mean financially. 

In our obsessive quest for pleasure, we put ourselves emotionally, mentally, and spiritually down this rapid spiral of debt. 

The Bible warns about such people who make it their sole purpose to chase after pleasure and luxury. 

“He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” Proverbs 21:17

God created us to live life on purpose. While life can be challenging, it’s almost meant to be enjoyed. Yes, there are times when we can sit back, enjoy life, and even splurge. But we’re called to live life with intention and responsibility. 

There’s nothing wrong with pleasure. 

However, when the love of luxury and pleasure precedes God and His priorities, we drive ourselves to ruin.

Let’s be wise and not spend all that we have, whether time or money, on something temporal.

Do you find yourself obsessing over and pursuing the pleasure of luxury because it’s a way of escape? 

Even the luxurious things are temporary and fade away as quickly as you purchased them. We will never be prosperous or satisfied if all we focus on is luxury. 

God never meant our portion to be poverty, moral, and spiritual destitution. Only God can satisfy what this world can’t. Let’s seek His Presence for pleasure and his luxurious everlasting love.

Please pray with me:

Lord, thank you for life and our finances. Please help us to manage our finances with wisdom and not be consumed with the temporal, no matter how luxurious it is. Help us to enjoy the nice things You bless us with in moderation while being responsible, intentional, and content. Your extravagant love makes us rich, and we seek pleasure from it. We cancel the spirit of financial and spiritual poverty; know that You are enough. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

This devotional was written by Lindsey Capron a loving contributor of Our Given Purpose® for A Daily Purpose Bible Study & Devotional.

The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Nehemiah 12:27-13:31, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 21:17-18 

Download or Print the One Year Bible Reading Plan