Christian Hedonism Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Christian Hedonism -------------------------------------------- Date: 8/30/2000 Keywords: "hedonism" "temptation" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Ecclesiastes 8:14-15* 14. There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. 15. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. Questions 1. What remedy does the writer offer for the unfairness of life?   2. Does it surprise you?   3. How does this remedy differ from the escapism of Web porn?   Practical help Let me venture a guess: More of us turn to Web porn after setbacks than triumphs. When we're riding high, the lure of flesh seems less tempting than after we're hit with the injustice of the world. The writer of Ecclesiastes suggests an interesting alternative to sinful indulgence. Let's call it righteous indulgence. Eat, drink and be merry, he writes, and enjoy the days gives you. Maybe he's onto something. We tend to jump to the opposite conclusion when we feel tempted: Clamp down and pull yourself up by the bootstraps. While these suggestions have some merit, why not use a little levity to combat our twisted desires? Next time you're tempted to indulge in Web porn, don't automatically reserve the church prayer room. Reserve a seat at your favorite restaurant — and offer a toast to the God of all good things. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.