hedone – Ministry of Grace Church

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2 Peter 2:13 – Life of the Party

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Will

Suffering wrong as the payback for their unrighteousness. They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime; they are stains and blemishes, self-indulgent in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you.

Truth to Learn

When harsh criticism is given of others, we need to ensure that we are not guilty of the same misdeeds.

Behind the Words

The word translated “pleasure” is hēdonē, from which we get our English word hedonism. This Greek word refers to “physical pleasure, gratification, or enjoyment.”

“Carouse” is from the Greek word truphē, meaning “to be made weak by luxury which destroys the integrity of body and mind.”

“Self-indulgent” is from entruphaō (having the same root as truphē), which means “to indulge or revel in luxuries.”

The word “deceits” is from the Greek word apatē, actually meaning “delusion or deception.”

Meaning Explained

Peter continues his condemning description of the actions of these false teachers. This is a tricky verse to translate, so let’s look at it carefully. We also have to tie it to the previous verse to get the full meaning. My translation of the end of the previous verse and this one is:

… In their own corruption they shall utterly perish, suffering wrong as the payback for their unrighteousness. They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime; they are stains and blemishes, self-indulgent in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you.

“Suffering wrong as the payback of unrighteousness” This is a reference to what will happen when they perish and are judged by God. It should be encouraging to us as we see the ungodly seemingly getting away with, even being rewarded for, their evil deeds. Peter says that these false teachers will get what they deserve when all is said and done.

“They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime.” These people believe in indulging themselves in pleasurable things all day long. And lest we get too self-righteous, consider that this is precisely what advertising is telling us everywhere we look: “live for pleasure, and live for today, not worrying about what it will cost tomorrow.”

“They are stains and blemishes indulging in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you” Peter is saying that these people indulge themselves in activities that they consider appropriate but that are morally wrong. And, these false teachers do such things with the pretense of fellowshipping and celebrating with you in church. But all the while they are deceiving you so as to keep you around, not for what they can give you spiritually, but for what you can give them materially.

Application

In light of Peter’s harsh condemnation of the false teachers of his day, let’s examine ourselves, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:28-30.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and let him drink of the cup; for the one eating and drinking unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. For this reason many among you are weak and feeble, and many sleep.

Let’s determine what our own motives really are. Are they selfish and self-seeking? Or, are they submissive and God-serving? Before we cast the speck out of our brother’s eye, let us deal with the beam in our own eye!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 4:3 – Unanswered Prayers

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Will

You ask and do not receive, because you ask badly, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Truth to Learn

Selfish prayers usually go unanswered, and when they are answered the way we want, we usually regret it later.

Behind the Words

The word “ask” is translated from aiteō, which specifically refers to a request by someone made to another who is superior, like a beggar from a giver, a child from its parent, or any person from God. In James’ usage here it is clearly referring to someone asking to receive something from God. This verb, as well as the verb translated “receive,” are present, active, indicative verbs, indicating current continuous action (you are continually asking and continually not receiving).

The second word translated “ask” is also a form of aiteō. This occurrence, however, is in the present tense, middle voice, and indicative mood. The middle voice implies something done by the subject (you) to or for the subject (you). Hence, it could be translated as “you ask for yourselves.”

The adverb “badly” is translated from the Greek word kakōs, which means “badly” or “in an evil manner.” And the word translated “pleasures” here is the same as in James 4:1, hedone (sensual pleasure, enjoyment, or gratification).

“Squander” is from dapanaō, which literally means “to spend.” When used in a negative sense, as it is here, it means “to consume, to waste, or to squander.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse James said that the reason we don’t have things is because we don’t ask. Now he’s telling us that when we do ask we still don’t receive them because we are asking for the wrong reasons and with the wrong motives. Here is a literal translation of this verse:

You are continually asking and not receiving because you are continually asking for yourselves in an evil manner, that you might waste it on your sensual pleasures.

Once again, we see James’ politely in-your-face style portrayed here. He does not sugar coat the truth, and he does not dance around the issue. The reason that our prayers to God are not being answered, he says, is that we are focused on ourselves. We are selfishly asking God for things that will give us pleasure! We often tell God (and even fool ourselves into believing) that we have needs for which we seek His help. In reality, though, these needs are usually nothing more than selfish desires for comfort and pleasure.

God is certainly concerned for our needs but not for our pleasure. He never promises us pleasure, he promises us peace. There’s a big difference between these two!

When we pray, it should be for things that will ultimately glorify God, not things that give us pleasure. If the answering of our prayers causes praise and glory to be ascribed to God, He is likely to respond favorably. If the prayer is simply for our own comfort or pleasure, He is likely to respond negatively.

Sometimes, however, God does answer our selfish prayers. But in such situations we usually don’t get the results we were looking for. Instead, we get pain and or suffering and God uses these trials to help us grow. This may very well be the source of the old adage, “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.”

Application

Do you keep a prayer list? If you do, get you list out right now. If you don’t, then take a few minutes to write down the things that you have been praying for lately. Now look through your list carefully and critically. How many of these prayers are for your own selfish comfort or pleasure, and how many of these things will result in God receiving glory and praise? (Ouch!)

In God's service, for His glory,

James 4:1 – Roots of Conflict

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Will

Where do wars and controversy come from among you? Do they not come from your passions warring in your members?

Truth to Learn

Fighting and quarreling result from our own selfish desire for gratification.

Behind the Words

The opening word of this verse is pothen, which is an interrogative adverb. That is, it indicates the question, “From where?” It may imply “What is the place?” or it may imply “What is the cause?” as it does in this case.

The word translated “wars” is polemos and refers to warfare or fighting in general. The word translated “controversy” is the word machē, which refers to specific “battles, skirmishes, or controversies.”

“Among you” is translated from en humin, which literally translates as “in you (plural).” James is referring to the fighting and bickering within the church. How tragic!

The word translated “passions” is hēdonē (from which we get the word hedonism). This word means “sensual pleasure, enjoyment, or gratification.”

The verb translated “warring” is strateuomai, which means “to wage a military campaign.” It is expressed here as a participle in the middle voice, so it could be interpreted as “waging war with yourselves.”

“Members” is a word that we have seen previously. It is the Greek word melos, referring to a limb or other part of the body. In this case it is probably referring metaphorically to members of the Body of Christ (the Church.)

Meaning Explained

Being the practical person he is, James will focus this entire chapter on interpersonal problems that exist in the church. The church is not immune to problems and James wants us to see what causes them so we can overcome them. He has just taught about heavenly wisdom which is peaceable and the fruit of righteousness which is sown in peace. Unfortunately, such peace is often lacking, even in the church.

He tells us here that the source of wars and battles among people are the very desires for pleasure and personal gratification that each one of us has naturally. But it is not the mere possession of these desires that causes problems, rather it is the uncontrolled expression and pursuit of these pleasurable desires (the lusts, as we will see in the next verse).

James is using a complex metaphor here referring to the personal pleasure that wars “in your members.” By this expression he is referring not only to the battling that goes on inside each one of us, within our own bodies, but also the selfish battling that goes on between members of the body of Christ, the Church. And once again we see that problems, even within the church, are caused by focusing on ourselves and our own needs, instead of the needs of others.

Application

Are you at odds with someone in your church? James will tell us later how to eliminate these quarrels. For now, though, let’s recognize that the source of the issue is your own desire for gratification. Can you release that to God? Can you forgive the other person (and forget the offense ever happened) and give God all the glory?

In God's service, for His glory,