The Dangers of Immediate Gratification
Every person has strong desires and needs, whether they are physical, emotional, or psychological in nature. If we give in to those desires and needs, so that we seek to gratify them immediately, we will experience all types of problems. Esau found out about that when he came in from the field hungry one day. He sold his birthright, as the firstborn son of Isaac, for a bowl of red stew and some bread.(Genesis 25:33,34) Unfortunately, we are all subject to these types of temptations all of the time, and we can make some very disastrous decisions, if we think immediate gratification is the right option. Usually, it is the worst option.
Satan is smart, and he knows how to use our desires and needs to lead us to sin.(James 1:13-15) He and his demons work overtime to tempt us, and since they know us very well, they know just what desires and needs are the strongest in our lives. If we follow their lead, we go like sheep to the slaughter, because sin causes great destruction and death. We must come to the place where we realize this fact, and we allow the Lord to give us the power to delay gratification long enough to consider the consequences of our actions. We do this by "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."(II Corinthians 10:3-6) Then, we ask the Spirit to show us what to do, and we proceed according to the truth, instead of according to the lie of immediate gratification. Of course, only believers who are allowing the Spirit to fill, direct, and empower them, are able to do this. For most people immediate gratification is a given, because they are no match for Satan and his forces.
Just think of how Esau's life would have been different, if he had not given in to the feeling that he was going to die if he did not eat some stew immediately. Just think of how your life would be different if you had not made similar decisions in the past. Then, think about how much better your life can be now and in the future, if you will know the Lord and allow His Spirit to give you control over immediate gratification, so that you can practice self-control.(Galatians 5:22,23) I could go on and on, but you get the picture.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-29.
Satan is smart, and he knows how to use our desires and needs to lead us to sin.(James 1:13-15) He and his demons work overtime to tempt us, and since they know us very well, they know just what desires and needs are the strongest in our lives. If we follow their lead, we go like sheep to the slaughter, because sin causes great destruction and death. We must come to the place where we realize this fact, and we allow the Lord to give us the power to delay gratification long enough to consider the consequences of our actions. We do this by "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."(II Corinthians 10:3-6) Then, we ask the Spirit to show us what to do, and we proceed according to the truth, instead of according to the lie of immediate gratification. Of course, only believers who are allowing the Spirit to fill, direct, and empower them, are able to do this. For most people immediate gratification is a given, because they are no match for Satan and his forces.
Just think of how Esau's life would have been different, if he had not given in to the feeling that he was going to die if he did not eat some stew immediately. Just think of how your life would be different if you had not made similar decisions in the past. Then, think about how much better your life can be now and in the future, if you will know the Lord and allow His Spirit to give you control over immediate gratification, so that you can practice self-control.(Galatians 5:22,23) I could go on and on, but you get the picture.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-29.