PLEASURES MUST BE CONTROLLED

10. What problems arose in connection with the “love feasts” held by early Christians?

¹⁰ It is clear that pleasures must be kept in their place so that serious problems do not arise. This is something that first-century Christians had to contend with in connection with their “love feasts,” which appear to have been banquets where even poor Christians could enjoy good food and upbuilding association. Sadly, persons lacking a spiritual outlook took advantage of these occasions to satisfy selfish passions. That is why the Christian disciple Jude referred to certain ones as “rocks hidden below water in your love feasts.” (Jude 12) Involvement with such wrongly motivated individuals could have led to a person’s experiencing shipwreck to his faith. Similarly, the apostle Peter wrote: “They consider luxurious living in the daytime a pleasure. They are spots and blemishes, indulging with unrestrained delight in their deceptive teachings while feasting together with you.” (2 Pet. 2:13) Such persons had as their sole aim the satisfying of sensual pleasure both day and night. Under the guise of being Christian, they carried on the shameless practices of the world alienated from God. Like spots and blemishes, they tarnished the fine record of faithful Christians, bringing great reproach on God’s holy name. By voicing their “deceptive teachings,” their corrupt views, they apparently succeeded in turning wholesome gatherings of Christians into noisy, boisterous affairs of self-indulgence.

11. What must be kept out of the social gatherings held by God’s people?

¹¹ In this there is a vital lesson for God’s servants today. It is fine when Christians can come together and enjoy fellowship as well as food and drink in moderation. But worldliness must be kept out of these gatherings if they are to be spiritually upbuilding. What is a gathering where alcoholic beverages flow very freely, where music continues to blare into the wee hours of the morning and where people share in wild dancing? It is a worldly party, a carouse, regardless of what name of respectability some persons may try to attach to it.

12. How should Christians feel about unrestrained merrymaking?

¹² True Christians have had their fill of such unrestrained merrymaking during the time that they were ignorant of God’s will and purpose. They want no part of an occasion that is characterized by heavy drinking, disorder and sensuality or a gathering that includes any of these facets or that even borders on them. Now that they have been enlightened, they take to heart the Scriptural counsel: “As in the daytime let us walk decently, not in revelries and drunken bouts, not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct, not in strife and jealousy.” (Rom. 13:13) “For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations when you proceeded in deeds of loose conduct, lusts, excesses with wine, revelries, drinking matches, and illegal idolatries.”​—1 Pet. 4:3.

13, 14. As is evident from Galatians 5:21 and Isaiah 5:11, 12, why are pleasure seekers in grave danger?

¹³ This is a very serious matter. Individuals who engage in revelries or carouses are mentioned in the Scriptures among those who “will not inherit God’s kingdom.” (Gal. 5:21) Hence, persons who begin to live solely for pleasure are in grave danger. This is forcefully emphasized in connection with certain Israelites in the time of Isaiah. Wine would flow very freely at their feasts. As the night progressed the revelers would become loud and boisterous. Their noisy feasting would be accompanied by sensual music designed to arouse the passions. Therefore, through his prophet Isaiah, Jehovah directed these words to them: “Woe to those who are getting up early in the morning that they may seek just intoxicating liquor, who are lingering till late in the evening darkness so that wine itself inflames them! And there must prove to be harp and stringed instrument, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts; but the activity of Jehovah they do not look at, and the work of his hands they have not seen.”​—Isa. 5:11, 12.

¹⁴ Rightly, woe or calamity would befall these pleasure seekers. They gave no thought to pleasing the Creator. Their sole objective was to satisfy their fleshly desires right from the start of the day. It is no different today. Persons who give themselves over to unrestrained reveling are giving no consideration to the works of Jehovah. How could anyone reflect on Jehovah’s grand activities to the sound of sensual music while at the same time eating and drinking to excess? As Isaiah describes it, during the period of their self-indulgence, the pleasure seekers act as if there were no evidence testifying to the existence and activities of the Most High. Therefore, just as in the prophet’s time, unrepentant revelers stand disapproved before Jehovah God.

15. How did Jesus warn of the danger of getting involved in living for pleasure?

¹⁵ It is noteworthy that Jesus Christ alerted his disciples to the grave danger of becoming pleasure seekers, commanding: “Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking.” (Luke 21:34) Overindulgence in food and drink may weigh down the heart with feelings of guilt and crowd out any desire for spiritual things. As a result, a person may become spiritually drowsy, blind to the responsibilities that come with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Were he to continue in that state, the coming of the Son of God in the capacity of executioner of divine vengeance would overtake him as a “snare.” Jesus warned: “It will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:35, 36) Certainly, the “last days” are no time for anyone to ignore these words and slip into worldly practices at social gatherings.

8. In what way can we be helped if we apply the lesson that can be drawn from Solomon’s investigation?

⁸ If we allow ourselves to be guided by the facts uncovered by Solomon’s investigation, surely we will not permit pleasures to overshadow or crowd out spiritual activities. This calls for being moderate in the number of social gatherings one attends and the amount of time devoted to them. If we were repeatedly to spend a good part of the night at social affairs, how could we possibly be alert the next day for spiritual opportunities, such as congregational meetings or public witnessing? If keeping late hours because of recreation resulted in a person’s being too tired for spiritual activities, is not the pursuit of amusements getting out of control? While we may rightly enjoy wholesome, upbuilding social gatherings and other forms of relaxation, these should not become the big things in our lives. Our greatest satisfaction should continue to be found in a life that centers around faithful service to Jehovah God.