Love Joy

“Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”

This verse gives us a strong warning against loving the pleasures of the flesh. “Pleasure” in this verse is set against “joy” in verse 15. Although these two words may be used interchangeably in modern society, biblically the represent two contrasting ways of life. In Psalm 21:15, it is justice that brings joy to the righteous. In verse 17 we see that the love of pleasure makes for a poor man.

Our nations response to the COVID-19 pandemic has left most of us with extra time throughout the day and limited ways to spend it. Idle time can often cause us to invest ourselves into the pleasures of the flesh instead of the joy of the Lord. During this time most of us are not lacking internet access and with that access comes the unlimited potential pursue in depth whatever sinful desires we previously may not have had the time to give into. Proverbs 21 warns against giving our affection over to our temptations as does Jesus when he says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

This is a prime opportunity for the enemy to tempt us into falling in love with the pleasures of the world and taking our attention away from the joy of the Lord. We should be on high alert, spending our idle time in the scriptures and in prayer, guarding ourselves from temptation, and committing our hearts to the joy of loving our great and glorious God.