Alex on #Pleasure

There are some things that just don't go together. When I was in middle school, I had a friend who would always buy Chick-fil-a for lunch once a week. She would always dip her chicken nuggets into barbeque sauce, then dip Cheetos into the leftover barbeque sauce. And I would tell her I thought that Cheetos in barbeque sauce was nasty. I think that Cheetos and Barbeque sauce do not go together.
Some other things don't go together, either. For example, a good relationship with God and a good relationship with this world have a hard time going together. So, what do I mean by 'a good relationship with the world'? I'm talking about a drive for pleasure and happiness.
If our primary goal is to please God and to grow closer to him, we can't also have the primary goal of reaching pleasure from the world. It's more than Cheetos and barbeque sauce - it's like snow in Mexico in July. It's impossible.
See, God has a plan for each of us that works within his plans for the world. His plan for you may not include earthly pleasure. It may include living in a jungle somewhere as a missionary. It may include having or adopting children who require special medical attention. It may include working at a lower-income job where you're needed, rather than a high-paying job. It may include staying single, even if you'd like to get married. None of these scenarios is particularly 'pleasure-full'. But God doesn't desire that we be happy in this life. He desires that we know him, that we inspire others to seek him.
We can't hold God in one hand and the world in the other. You'll either have to let go of one or be torn in two pieces.
Jesus said that wherever your teasure is, your heart will be there, too. (Luke 12:34) If you prize your iPod, your clothes, your car, your grades, your friends, your sports, your house... More than the things of God, your heart will still be on earth - your goals will be from the world. But if you prize your God, your Savior, your friends coming to know Christ, your time with other Christians, your realization of God... More than the things of this world, your heart will be in heaven - your goals will be from God.

So, where is your treasure?
Where is your heart?
Where do you goals lead you? To Christ? Or to the world?
Are you living for your pleasure or for God's? God doesn't need our praise and thanks, but he deserves them because he loves us unconditionally.

Alex W / Message Writer