Saturday 12/5/12

Proverbs 21:17 ESV

Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;

he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

In this verse, God warns us the danger of loving pleasure, wine and oil (the cosmetic of ancient time). Pleasure is good for relaxing & recreation, wine is to increase appetite, and oil or cosmetic is to beautify life. God has created them for good, but we are to use them, not love them. Used to overdose, they will take up time, strength and money from more meaningful activities like working, learning and fellowshipping - which harm us.

We are to love God, love our neighbors, love our work and love what is good. We are to focus our time, our money and our strength on them. Pleasure, wine (food & drink), oil (cosmetic & clothing) are just little good things for our free time. They should be in low priority compared to the things we are commanded to love.