Hedonism is all about happiness or pleasure. Happiness and pleasure are good things, but when we make happiness and pleasure the highest forms of good, we miss out on the best God has for us.
In the movie, The Matrix, it is discovered that machines have taken over the world and are channeling human energy to power their world. All humans are suspended in a solution where their minds and reality are integrated into an elaborate VR program, "The Matrix" to give the "human batteries"; the illusion they are living. A few people have been freed from this false reality and are living in the true reality dominated by the machines. Those who have been freed have found a way to enter into the matrix where laws of physics and consciousness can be altered and manipulated.
In the movie, they can "load" themselves into a program where they can learn virtually anything and be in any kind of environment. Do you want to learn Jujitsu? Load the program. Vince Vitale poses a similar question. If there was a machine where we could load or chose any experience: winning the Olympics, falling in love, eroticism, your pleasure is the determiner. What would we do if we could preprogram our lives in such a way?
Hedonism is the belief that life is about happiness and limitless pleasure. Hedonism does not place boundaries on pleasure but makes personal pleasure the highest goal of life. In fact, many people today give into this way of thinking. It's part of the American Dream. Gain as much wealth and possessions as possible and die happy. I've heard many times from people, "I don't need God, I'm happy just the way I am."
This is what we teach our children too. Go to college so you can earn more money and be happier. We love you just the way you are. We say this culturally, our "pride" in licentiousness. The greatest call in our society is to make sure we satisfy our every desire, scratch off the bucket list, buy the bigger house or car.
What is even more alarming is how the teaching of hedonism has infiltrated the church and popular teaching. Joel and Victoria Osteen are quoted as saying, “do good for your own self” because obedience, the church, and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness." (September 2014). Christian hedonism tells us that God's purpose is to bring our life pleasure.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalms (8:3-9)
“The loneliest moment in life is just when you have experienced that which you thought would deliver the ultimate and it has let you down.” (Ravi Zacharias)
I. Our Ultimate Purpose is for Worship, Not Self-Pleasure
Anything that delights you and energizes you in life is a legitimate pleasure so long as it does not violate your ultimate purpose in life. Our purpose in life is to first worship and give glory to God. Some seem to believe that in choosing to follow God, we must abandon all pleasure. Pleasure and happiness are actually good and godly things, but they are not do not give meaning.
“If happiness were all that I was after, I would have settled for a good bottle of port." (C.S. Lewis)
What the psalmist is proclaiming is that there is a profound pleasure, joy, and happiness in finding relationships and intimacy with God. In fact, God brings deeper meaning to life, not only in life's pleasures but also in life's sorrows and pain.
II. The Pleasures of this World are Temporary
The hedonist will say that the highest calling in life is pleasure: sex, expressions, the arts, getting high, escaping pain, success, wealth, etc.. These are things that bring us happiness so we should indulge in these things, escape pain and struggle in pursuit of better things. In fact God is anti-pleasure.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (Galatians 5:19-20)
Some of the most unhappy people in this world are those considered wealthy and successful. I think the worst thing that can happen to someone is to find success in Hollywood. Sooner or later, disappointment, betrayal, sickness, and death will all come into our lives. What is going to sustain you during those times? The moment you desacralize life and its pleasures, you lose the true meaning and depth of what it means to be human.
III. God is Pro-Pleasure
The fact of the matter is, that God is not the denier of pleasure, He is the creator of pleasure. Gid us pro-pleasure. God created a warm bath, He created sex, He created music, worship, ocean sunrises, and intimacy. It is man who has abused and misused these things. We have placed them on our altar of self-satisfaction. Pleasure is not to become a place of idolatry, where we replace our relationship with God in pursuit of these things.
10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)
Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain. Meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure (G.K. Chesterton)
14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14 (ESV)
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. Proverbs 21:17 (ESV)
All pleasure comes at a cost. For the right kind of pleasure, you pay the price before you enjoy it. For the wrong kind of pleasure, you pay the price after you enjoy it. (Ravi Zacharias)
IV. God Bring Meaning to Life Through Pleasure and Pain
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
HOW SHOULD THIS BIBLICAL TRUTH CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE?
The pleasure from God is something that is eternal. When we enjoy life's pleasures in the context God created them for u,s to use, not abuse, then we find fulfillment instead of perpetual emptiness and longing.
There is meaning in your life that extends beyond the fleeting pleasure you are pursuing. When you come to a place with God in understanding that meaning, you see the meaning in pain and sorrow as much as you do in the pleasures.
In Jesus Among Secular Gods, the Bible says there are several ways we can enjoy legitimate pleasures without allowing them to become idols and distractions.
1. Feed yourself well. The abuse of pleasure can be avoided by storing what is good, noble, holy, and righteous in our hearts (Psalm 119:9-11, Matthew 15:18-20, Ephesians 5:15-20)
2. Practice Self-control. Pleasure must be handled in moderation (Proverbs 25:26) Godly leaders willingly choose to suffer along with the people of God
3. Pursue Sexual Purity. Each of us should honor marriage and sexuality as sacred and as God designed them. Sexual immorality and lust are the results of our sinful nature and an afront to God's holiness (Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).
4. Delight in What is Best. Feed something and it will grow. Starve something and it will die. The righteous who delight in God's word will receive wisdom and prosper (Psalm 1:1-3; 119:127-131)
5. Understand the Big Picture. Jesus calls his followers to sacrificial love rather than the evasion of pain or the exhausting pursuit of pleasure (Luke 9:23; John 15:20, Philippians 1:29; 3:10-11)
CONCLUSION - ON HOLY GROUND
I think when we come to a better understanding of the holy, we begin to see the meaning of pleasure and pain in the role of our life and how they add meaning. When Isaiah finds himself in God's throne room, he cries out that he is ruined, because he beheld the Holy.
It would be later that Isaiah would see the image of the victorious Christ, not as a wealthy conquering king, but a suffering servant (Isaiah 53:3-4). This points to the brokenness in our own world. With whatever sorrow you are experiencing today, the highest pursuit in your life is not pleasure but meaning; be it in the sorrow or pleasure.
Maybe you are in a time of your life when you are experiencing deep sorrow. The hope and liberty for you are in finding the meaning and purpose of that sorrow. If you are in a time of great pleasure and say to yourself, "I don't really need God, because I'm happy." What is going to sustain you when the diagnoses, betrayal, pain, or despair arrive? Deion Sanders said that after he won the Superbowl, he went and bought a $278,000 Lamborghini and realized he was more empty inside than ever.
We have a Savior that is the author of pleasure and identifies with our sorrows
Take it to the Cross
Close
Pray
Conversation Starters: During the next week as someone who is not a Christian: Would it be alright if I prayed with you?
Sermon Notes
1. Our Ultimate Purpose is for Worship, Not Self-Pleasure
2. The Pleasures of this World are Temporary
3. God is Pro-Pleasure
4. God Bring Meaning to Life Through Pleasure and Pain
Study Questions
1. Many people would say, “I don’t need God, I am happy as I am.” How would you respond?
2. Describe in your own words the difference between pleasure from God and hedonism.
3. If you had to express to someone what constitutes a good life, what would you say? Why?
4. What is an example of a pleasure God has intended for our good that leads to sin when it becomes our ultimate pursuit or it is abused?
5. Read Philippians 4:8. Do you take Paul’s advise into account when selecting movies or TV shows to watch, or music to download, books to read, and other entertainment to enjoy? Why or why not?
