Which other Proverbs emphasize the dangers of pursuing pleasure over wisdom? Key Verse: Pleasure’s Price Tag “He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not become rich.” (Proverbs 21:17) Food & Drink: When the Table Becomes a Trap • Proverbs 23:20-21 — “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat. For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” • Proverbs 25:16 — “If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.” • Proverbs 25:27 — “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.” • Proverbs 28:7 — “A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” These verses echo 21:17 by showing that unchecked appetite drains resources, dignity, and health. Sensual Pleasure: The Cost of Forbidden Indulgence • Proverbs 29:3 — “A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.” • Proverbs 5:9-10 — Immorality “will drain your wealth … and enrich the house of a stranger.” Pleasure pursued outside God’s design always leaves the soul poorer and the wallet lighter. Luxury & Spending: Devouring Every Treasure • Proverbs 21:20 — “Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man devours them.” • Proverbs 11:28 — “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” The wise store and steward; the pleasure-driven consume and collapse. Restless Desire: A Heart That Never Says “Enough” • Proverbs 27:20 — “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” • Proverbs 30:15-16 — “The leech has two daughters: Give and Give… four that never say, ‘Enough!’ ” Pleasure without boundaries breeds an appetite that only grows. Impulsiveness & Laziness: Subtle Cousins of Hedonism • Proverbs 19:2 — “Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.” • Proverbs 24:30-34 — The sluggard’s field is overgrown, ending in poverty “like an armed man.” • Proverbs 13:18 — “Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” A life ruled by impulse—whether for rest or for thrills—slides toward the same poverty 21:17 warns about. Threading It All Together 1. Pleasure is a gift; pursuing it as a master is bondage. 2. Unchecked appetite—food, drink, sex, luxury, ease—leads to poverty of wallet and of soul. 3. Wisdom disciplines desire, saving resources for better purposes and future needs. Living the Contrast • Budget and plan; refuse impulse buys (21:20). • Practice moderation at the table (23:20-21; 25:16). • Guard purity and marital faithfulness (5:9-10; 29:3). • Cultivate gratitude to silence restless craving (27:20). • Seek godly counsel before major decisions (19:2). Following these wisdom patterns turns pleasure from a cruel master into an occasional servant, leaving lasting treasure rather than lingering regret. |
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