The title of this blog coms from a philisophical position known as the "hedonic paradox". It states that the pursuit of pleasure for pleasure's sake often ends in frustration rather than satisfaction. While I was reading up on this thought I really had to let it sink in. If anyone out there has been reading my posts you'll be able to identify that this "paradox" has a firm foundation in my life. I spent years pursuing hedonistic ends by any means, always with the promise of fulfillment dangling in front of my face like a carrot on a string; yet, when it was over, there was only sadness and emptiness. You would think that after two or three incidences, it would be easy to realize that there is no gold at the end of this rainbow, but surprisingly enough, each time the urge returned it was as if I had forgotten the last time.
There is a Hebrew proverb that says, "Like a dog returning to its vomit, so is a fool returning to his folly." It's a rather graphic word picture, but it is very true. I was so repulsed inside about what I had become, I would physically become ill, yet none of it stopped me from repeating the endless cycle. Consider this in your life. What are you chasing after? Why are you chasing it? Is it sex? drugs? money? success? All of these things are hedonistic pleasures. None of these will give you fulfillment. If you doubt what I say simply turn on the news. Actors and actresses with more money and noteriety than you or I are committing suicide, presumably because they are lacking something inside. More CEOs of multi-million dollar companies take anti-depression medication than mothers suffering from post-partum depression. How many politicians in this country have sex scandals exposed publicly? These men have all they should need or want, yet something drives them to keep seeking pleasure. I know this feeling because I have lived it and still feel it's cold tug on my heart.
While you may not be a believer in Christ, while reading this, I have found that the Biblical picture of Satan and sin matches the reality of this world better than any other belief system in existence. Satan is portrayed as the accuser of men. In his actions he draws mankind into sin by promising prosperity and satisfaction and when you have succumbed, he uses the very same sinful actions to place blame and guilt upon you. It has been said that sin, if allowed to flow unchecked, will kill you. I don't mean you'll die from old age, but that your actions will bring about an untimely demise. Many skeptics will doubt this, and even argue that there is no such thing as "sin". My simple question to that is, "Have you never done anything you know internally to be wrong? Even if it didn't wrong anyone else?" I doubt any honest person on the face of this planet could answer no to that. If the answer is yes, then ask yourself why. the why is because there is a compass in each and every one of us pointing us to God, the author and perfector of what is good and right in this world. Unfortunately, we are surrounded by evil, temptation and failure; both from outside ourselves and from within. This has the effect of a magnet on a compass and begins to pull our course to the left or to the right of what God's will is.
The hedonist paradox was put together by secular philosophy but sums up a plethora of Biblical truth. If you are an addict, you know this to be true and are living it right now. Know that nothing you desire in this world will bring absolute fulfillment! Desire is very convincing and will undoubtedly begin telling you that nothing your striving for is really "that bad". Anything ,and I mean anything, outside of God will fail you. It will fail you because it is devised either by humans, for humans, or from a fallen world. Science teaches us that the entire universe is on a slow track of expansion toward eventual collapse. If everything we know in this physical universe is destined for destruction, what gives any of us the idea that anything promised in this life will take us anywhere else. There is more to life than the old adage, "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." After all, eating, drinking and being merry only satisfy for a short time, and once you die, you face your judgment. You, me and everyone else on the face of this earth will stand before God one day; make today the day you start to live for Him!
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1Peter 4:1-6
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Very interesting blog. I really enjoyed reading it. I like the way you describe sin and "earthy pleasure" in a new light. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is all relative. Some say this is not so, but I'd beg to differ. Some say, if they were to smash your foot with a hammer, that it would absolutely hurt, and I say that if I were already in agony from another source, such a thing might provide a welcome diversion. One pain can lessen another.
ReplyDeleteA spoiled brat might think the world was coming to an end if they didn't get that new Porche they wanted. A starving third world teenager might find they had reached a level of heaven if they didn't have to worry about the basic necessities of life.
Satisfaction is a matter of relative perception. Without the feeling of dissatisfaction, a person would never grow, never change, never become something greater and neither would humanity. We'd sit in our complacency, fully satisfied by an inner source of bliss.