This Proverb says, “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.” A person who seeks pleasure is seeking personal gratification. Because we all are prone to sin, personal gratification usually involves sinning in one way or another. It usually involves an act of selfishness and will not result in having God’s blessing.
Taken to extreme, pursuing pleasure will lead to a person spending their money to gain pleasure. It may also lead to a person losing income by neglecting their job. In this situation a person will not prosper. They may live a life of indebtedness.
Having pleasure is not a bad thing if it is gained in a good way. For example, having a good marriage will result in sexual gratification in a good way. It will produce pleasure that God will bless. God wants us to experience this pleasure within marriage rather than through promiscuity.
Therefore, we should not focus on getting pleasure that does not please God. The Bible says, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the rest will be given you as well.” Our focus in life should be on living rightly before God. When we do that, God will bless us. He will give us the pleasure that will fulfill our needs in a good way.
