“You have lived for pleasure on the earth and lived luxuriously; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” James 5:5
Most of us are constantly met with ads and marketing. There are constant bids for our attention, money, and time. There are ads for new innovative technology that will make our lives easier or the next new thing that will lift up our style and appearance. Whether we like it or not, this is the world that surrounds us and the messages we face every day. We often say things like, “Treat yourself!” or “You deserve it!” to give rationale behind indulging in these modern conveniences.
People have always been tempted to live for pleasure on earth and indulge in luxury. Whatever the rationale of the time, the appeal is undeniable. Yet in this passage, James gives a warning that moves beyond the momentary pleasure to see the reality of what this way of living leads to. Spoiler alert: It is not the satisfying journey we hope. We can take joy in God’s creation and the life He has given us without living for the pleasures of this earth and being wasteful on the fads of the moment. We can delight in the provision God has given and share it with others instead of fattening ourselves up with things that won’t truly last. Worldly pleasure and luxury are alluring but ultimately full of empty promises and things that will not last. Only in Christ can we enjoy the journey and invest in something that lasts.
- What are ways you have felt tempted to live for the pleasures of this earth? Where have you found those empty?
- How does James’s perspective change how you see the comforts of this world?
- Pray and ask God to help you change your desires from the convenience of the moment to a greater investment in eternity.
