...Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:4
At what point can one be said to be a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God? Considering that this is one of the traits that will characterize people in the end times, it becomes necessary for us to ensure that we are not such. The danger of being a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God is that whatever you love more than God becomes God to you. Such pleasures become gods to which they pour their devotion and affection. So how can we know that we are loving pleasure more than God?
When a person's desire for pleasure constantly makes him willing to set aside God's word in order to gratify such pleasures, it will be correct to say that he loves pleasure more than God. People never willingly, or knowingly, offend those they love in order to please those they don't love. When under pressure to give up one of two things, people will always give up what they love the least. The question is, who do we love more, God or pleasure?
There are pleasures that are not expressly forbidden in God's word, but if in our pursuit of gratifying them we neglect duties that are expressly commanded in God's word, we qualify as lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Lovers of God will hate to choose a course they know will cause Him grief or displeasure.
