Connecting Point: Wealth & Sexuality - Isn't America Out of Balance?

Pleasure seeking isn’t anything new, but isn’t part of the turmoil of our age due to plain old generational conflict? Aren’t millennials rightly concerned that the baby-boom generation is going to bankrupt the nation? Don’t older people talk sensibly about out-of-control sexuality? We’ve been turning to the book of Ecclesiastes for inspiration. Known for the phrase, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” King Solomon put things into perspective. We may point out that America is highly sexualized and driven by consumerism. However, this is not new. We have long been inundated with the ideology that pleasure somehow brings lasting fulfillment.

After chasing pleasure for years, Solomon had a change of heart: “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless. ‘Laughter,’ I said, ‘is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?’ I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives,” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3).

There are varying philosophies regarding pleasure, let me point out two major viewpoints; Hedonism vs. Asceticism. Merriam-Webster defines hedonism as the belief that pleasure or happiness is the most important goal in life; and asceticism as the principles and practices of an ascetic; extreme self-denial and austerity. For the Christian, we base our life practice on Biblical teaching which finds a rightful balance between those extremes. Pastor and author John Piper has been highly criticized for his view promoting Christian hedonism, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” It’s my opinion that Piper isn’t off-base Biblically.

God is not opposed to pleasure. He is opposed to pleasure that is absent of his principles and those pleasures that are in fact sin. One must walk a delicate balance. For this, we lean on the Bible for truth. I believe Ecclesiastes together with the New Testament establishes that apart from God, pleasure is meaningless.

The Bible permits pleasure in the bonds of male and female marriage, as evidenced in the Song of Solomon. Likewise, Paul provides important instruction regarding sexuality and marriage in 1 Corinthians 7, 11, and Ephesians 5. Another topic that Paul addressed included food (1 Corinthians 8), simply stating eat what you want with a clean conscience, but if someone takes objection, then don’t eat it for the weaker person’s sake. We also see Biblical instruction concerning the consumption of alcohol; drunkenness is a sin, (Ephesians 5; Galatians 5). “Do not gaze at wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper,” (Proverbs 23:31). Generations, centuries of peoples, informed by Solomon, have built a world of tremendous culture. Shouldn’t we find lasting purpose in God, and honor him throughout life?