If you’ve been “churched” for long time, you may have to “re-think” your attitude toward pleasure. It’s clearly God’s intention for us to live in pleasure because He created us with a huge capacity to experience it in every aspect of our being. All of our senses and most of our bodily functions can produce pleasure for us. He didn’t have to make us that way – but He did, and that tells us a lot about His role for pleasure in our lives. Life is supposed to be fun, wonderful, and pleasurable.
When I think about pleasure and God, I think that He intended for us to live in pleasure rather than pain. We’re just as capable of experiencing pain as pleasure, but in most cases, pain wounds us and diminishes us, whereas pleasure causes us to blossom and become whole in God and in the world. Love overcomes rejection. When we’re loved, we heal from the hurt which is unavoidable in life. Love’s not the only pleasure which heals us; I’m convinced that the beauty of creation, great art and music, a hug, and the pleasure of having loved ones around our table are antidotes for the abuse that is so prevalent in daily life. Pleasure heals us.
God has another purpose for pleasure in our lives. It may sound hedonistic or sensual, but we’re supposed to prefer pleasure over pain. That sounds almost silly but for many of us who don’t know this part of God, we often believe that He wants us to take the “hard” road. We believe that He guides us to the path that has the most “potholes” – the path that’s narrow. We think God is expecting us to denounce pleasure and choose a life as devoid of pleasure as possible. I’ve come to learn that nothing could be further from the truth. He wants us to live in peace, joy, love, and pleasure. Pleasure is meant to guide us to a life of fruitfulness and better becoming. Pleasure is meant to be a guide for us.
There’s one exception to the pleasure principle guiding us. Unless we have some kind of “burning bush”, meaning something that clearly indicates another direction, then I believe God expects us to take the path to the highest pleasures.
There are different kinds of pleasures: physical, emotional, and spiritual pleasures all of which are meant to guide us. There are, however, some pleasures which are “higher” than others. The highest pleasure is knowing God. He meets us where we are, hoping that in our pursuit of pleasure, we’ll discover just how amazing He is.
Look for pleasure, let it heal you, let it guide you into finding the highest pleasure – the pleasure of knowing and following Him.
© Copyright 2014-15, Paul K. Weigel – All rights reserved.