December 6
Pleasures Forevermore
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ––Psalm 16:11, AMP
Sometimes I think we’ve become allergic to pleasure. At least in my church background, “pleasure” was not a word to be trusted. As in, if your life is full of pleasure, you are either lustful, gluttonous, greedy, or a combination of the above. It hints at shadowy acts done in private, or very public acts (such as loud parties with lots of people) full of suspect behavior.
The word “pleasure” is found about 50 times in the Bible. So let’s start with a reference that uses the word in the negative sense, alluding to fleshly (sinful) pleasure:
There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves … treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.
––2 Timothy 3:1-2; 4-5
Obviously, that’s the camp we don’t want to find ourselves in—now, or in the last days (whenever they may be—some say we are in them now). And as God’s men, we all know that vigilance is important when it comes to combatting the sins of the flesh.
But did you know that the majority of references to “pleasure” in the Bible are positive? For example,
… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ––Philippians 2:13 (nkjv)
The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. ––Psalm 135:6
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. ––Psalm 147:10-11
What’s clear in the above verses—and so many others—regarding pleasure is this principle: When we endeavor to please the Lord, we are better able to walk in His favor. Happiness—pleasure’s twin—is not a dirty word, particularly when it’s born of our obedience to Him. That’s true pleasure.
Father, help me live my life in a way that pleases You and causes You pleasure.