BiblicalInsights.net

Gift giving is a tradition this time of the year (December).  The emphasis is on generosity.  Many charitable groups are looking for donations.  Individuals are excited about giving and receiving gifts.  Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were brought by the wise men to the young Jesus close to the time of His birth.  Gifts involve an interesting dynamic between the giver, the gift itself and the receiver.  Giving begins in the heart of the giver.  A person decides to give and what to give.  This means that giving is a free act.  The gift is a windfall.  It is not earned nor merited.  It can take many forms but whatever form it takes, it is designed to be beneficial to the receiver.  The receiver completes the circle in the dynamic if the gift is received.  Most of the time, the gift is received with warmth and appreciation.  When the gift is received, the benefit or blessing enhances the value of the receiver.  However, sometimes the gift is rejected.  Whenever this happens, the giver is often rebuffed and offended.  The rejection of goodwill and grace is never welcomed.  When the receiver rejects the gift, he/she robs himself/herself of the benefits of receiving the gift which could be detrimental to the welfare of the recipient.  Sometimes people do not act for their own good.
The Greatest Giver
The greatest giver is God!  This is the conclusion of the proper reasoning about both creation and redemption.  Consider Ps. 104:28, where God is depicted with open hands and His hands are filled with good.  Or, consider Rom. 11:29, where Paul affirms that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  In James 1:17, James affirms that every good gift and perfect gift is from the Father of lights.  God is constant in giving us the best of heaven.  The heart of God is exposed in the giving of spiritual gifts that are freely bestowed and priceless.  God is magnanimous in His giving.   He does not hold back the best of heaven from His creature–man.
God Gave His Son.  John 3:16.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9-10).  God’s gift–Jesus Christ–is the means of our redemption.  Our redemption is priceless and so is the unspeakable gift of God’s Son (II Cor. 9:15).  Human language is at a loss to describe the wonder and magnificence of this priceless gift.  This gift is the means of spiritual life and eternal life (I John 5:10-11).
God Gave Us a Savior.   Eph. 5:25
Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25).  Christ’s sacrifice was a selfless act of love to put away our sin.  “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26).  We are redeemed by His blood.  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).  Forgiveness by God is priceless and it is essential for our salvation!
God Gave His Grace.  Eph. 2:8-9.
“For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).  Grace is God’s favor freely bestowed upon those who stand in need of His saving power.  The reception of this grace is dependent upon the faith and obedience of the human heart in response to God’s love.  God’s grace is not limited.  His grace is not a one-time experience.  His grace is continually available to Christians after its initial reception providing for continual cleansing by the blood of Christ (I John 1:7-9).
God Gave His Spirit.  Acts 2:38
The gift of God’s Spirit is a promise that is received only by those who have obeyed the gospel.  Those who obey the Gospel (manifest faith in the Lord, love Him supremely, repent of their sins, confess Christ and are baptized into Christ) not only receive the remission of sins, but they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32).  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).  The Holy Spirit is a seal (denotes ownership).  The Holy Spirit is an intercessor (Rom. 8:26) aiding our prayers.  The Holy Spirit strengthens us with might in the inner man (Eph. 3:16).  The Holy Spirit is a priceless gift!
God Gives His Word.  James 1:17-18.
God begets us by His Word.  The germ of spiritual life is in the seed of the Word of God.  The seed begets us.  The Word of truth enlightens us and guides us into the pathway of righteousness.   The gospel of Christ is God’s way of making people righteous (Rom. 1:16-17).  “Buy the truth and sell it not!” (Prov. 23:23).  The truth is priceless!
God Gives Eternal Life Through His Son.  Rom. 6:23; I John 5:10-11.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Rom. 6:23).  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:10-11).  Eternal life is a quality of spiritual life and involves being in the presence of God forever.  It is free from:  tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain for the former things are passed away (Rev. 21:4).  Eternal life is priceless!
God Gives Us Richly All Things To Enjoy.  I Tim. 6:16-17
Paul charges the rich to glorify God with their riches.  God gives us richly all things to enjoy!  The blessings of God are meant to be enjoyed.  Of course, this precludes sinful pursuits.  God wants us to enjoy the good things that He provides for us.  The true disciple of Jesus who puts the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in life, has the promise that all “these things” will be added unto him (Mt. 6:33).  “These things” refers to food, clothing and shelter.  God will provide through His grace.  God sustains us.  These blessings are not meant to ruin and rule us.  They are to be received with thanksgiving and used to God’s glory (I Cor. 10:31).  God’s blessings are priceless!
God’s gifts:  His Son, Our salvation through His Son, His grace, His Spirit, His Word, eternal life and every good and perfect gift are priceless!  They are freely given.  They are the means of our spiritual wealth through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3; II Cor. 8:9).  They must be received through love, faith and obedience to God’s Holy Word.  God has opened His hands to bless us with His goodness.  We must open our hearts to receive with meekness and humility the wonderful blessings God bestows.  When we do so, we enrich our souls for eternity.

In art, sometimes the beauty of an object is highlighted by contrasting through color, light, or some other medium.  In language, the same is true.  The beauty of a concept can be seen more brightly through its contrast or its opposite. The beauty of thanksgiving can be seen by observing its contrast: ingratitude.
Where Are The Nine?  Luke 17:11-19.
Jesus heals ten lepers, one of whom is a Samaritan, and he is the only one who returns to thank the Lord for the physical healing.  Lepresy was a dreaded disease in Jesus’ day.  There was no cure for it.  It produced misery physically and socially.  A leper became a social outcast and was separated from the life of the community and religious activities.  Lepers had no hope.  The compassion of Jesus for these individuals led Him to heal them.  The healing was dramatic and it was discovered as they followed Jesus’ command to go and show themselves to the priest to confirm their physical well-being.  As they went, they were healed.  Only one returned to thank Jesus for the. miracle that would have radically changed each of their lives.  This prompted Jesus ask, “Where are the nine?”  The one who returned to Jesus was a Samaritan.  Jesus showed compassion to him without any prejudice.  Whenever the Samaritan returned to Jesus in gratitude, he received an even greater blessing.  Gratitude completed the circle of fellowship with the Lord.  The Lord said to him, “Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.”  This statement meant more than the physical healing.  All ten had received the miracle of healing.  Only the Samaritan received spiritual healing and was made completely whole.  Ingratitude robs of fellowship with God and all the spiritual blessings that God has to offer.  The beauty of gratitude is that it brings us back to God who blessed us in the first place.  This completes the circle of fellowship with God whereby we can obtain even greater blessings.  Physical healing is a wonderful blessing, but, spiritual healing (forgiveness) is even more precious.
The Danger of Riches in Producing Ingratitude.  Mark 10:17-22.  
The rich man Jesus encountered in this narrative wanted to know what he had to do to obtain eternal life.  He desires to know how to pursue the ultimate quest of the human heart–everlasting life.  At first, Jesus directs him to the Law of Moses (the law he lived under at the time) and to keep covenant with God (obey the commandments in the law).  The man replied that he had done so from his youth up.  Jesus perceived the he lacked one thing.  He told him to, “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mk. 10:21).  The man went away sorrowful, because he had great riches.  Jesus loved this man (Mk. 10:21), but, this man did not love the Lord back.  He failed to see that his riches were a blessing from God.  His ingratitude due to covetousness led him to reject the love of Jesus and the gift of everlasting life.  Covetousness is linked to lovelessness.  Lack of love for the Lord fails to complete the circle of fellowship with the Lord that leads to everlasting life.  The beauty of gratitude is that it is an act of love that binds us to the Lord so that we can have everlasting life with the Lord.
Ugly Bed-Fellows.  II Tim. 3:2.
The word “unthankful” is found twice in the KJV:  Luke 6:35 and II Tim. 3:2.  In II Tim. 3:2, the word “unthankful” is associated with eighteen other sins.  These sins would characterize the “last days” or the Christian Age.  Ingratitude is a sin that keeps company with many other ugly traits: lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Ingratitude corrupts the heart and turns it against God.  The beauty of gratitude is that it comes from a pure heart out of which God is praised.  “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).  God blesses us and, then, we bless God.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).  God blesses us, and, then, we bless God.  The cycle is repeated over and over again.  Gratitude is a key aspect of faithfulness to God!
Despising The Goodness of God.  Luke 6:35 and Rom. 2:4.
In Luke 6:35, ingratitude is associated with evil. God is good.  He does good even to the unthankful and evil person.  They are the recipients of temporal blessings (rain and sunshine–Mt. 5:45).  In Rom. 2:4, Paul exposes the link between ingratitude and impenitence.  “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing the the goodness of God leadest thee to repentance?”  Those who despise the riches of God’s goodness will not repent.  “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5).  Despising the goodness of God reveals an even bigger heart problem–rebellion against God.  Gratitude brings us closer to God where we are drawn by the goodness of God to change our lives to live in conformity with God’s will.  The beauty of gratitude is that it is the pathway to oneness with God!
The Dark Path.  Rom. 1:21.
The dark path is marked by ingratitude.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:21-23).  Ingratitude led to idolatry and the dark path that is associated with it.  Idolatry involves both moral and religious corruption.  The beauty of gratitude is that it marks the path of righteousness that both pursues and preserves relationship with God.
The Beauty of Thanksgiving.
The beauty of thanksgiving is seen in that it: completes the circle of fellowship with God which ushers in even greater blessings from God; it is an act of love that binds us to the Lord and makes everlasting life possible; it is associated with worship of God and keeps us faithful to God; it recognizes God’s goodness which compels us to change our lives and live in oneness with God, and it marks the pathway of righteousness that both pursues and preserves relationship with God.

The decision to indulge fleshly appetites for pleasure leads to sin against God and destroys and damns the soul.  This is every person’s battle.  It is the inward war!  The lusts of the flesh war against the soul (I Peter 2:11).  This battle is acute at this time in our culture.
Self-Indulgence Defined
Self-indulgence is the unrestrained gratification of one’s own fleshly appetites including desires, passions, and whims.  Whenever these fleshly appetites violate God’s law, they are sinful and put the human soul in peril.  These appetites can become chords which bind us to satan especially when habitually practiced.  They can corrupt the mind, heart, and will.  They put the will of man in direct conflict with the will of God.  They exhaust the energy needed to serve God and others.  We are so preoccupied with our own lusts that there is no time or energy or money left to serve God and others.  We are spent.  We are spent on self-indulgence and self-gratification.
Synonyms of Self-Indulgence
In order to further define the concept of self-indulgence, an examination of synonyms will aid us.  One synonym is hedonism.  Hedonism is succinctly summarized by Paul in II Tim. 3:4 by the phrase, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”  God should be and must be our “first love” (Matthew 22:36-39).  Whenever we supplant God with sinful pleasure, we have made a god out of sinful pleasure.  This is one of the false philosophies that Paul warns us about in Col. 2:8.  Paul writes, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  A second synonym is covetousness.  Covetousness is the insatiable appetite for more and more.  Covetousness is a lust of the flesh that focuses on material things and so defines materialism which is another false philosophy that can take us captive.  A third synonym is egotism.  Egotism is living life in a self-centered way.  It feeds on selfishness and violates the law to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and “love one another.”  Yet, another synonym is indolence.  Indolence is stubbornness.  Stubbornness manifests itself in the pursuit of wrong even if it is detrimental to our own good.  Another synonym is frivolity.  Frivolity is a lack of sober-mindedness.  Everything becomes of joke to those who do not take life seriously.  This produces an appetite for risky behaviors that puts our soul in harms way.  Still another synonym is entitlement.  Entitlement is the attitude that the world owes me everything and at the same time I owe others nothing. The last synonym is childishness.  Childishness is self-centered immaturity.  It is the inability to handle the challenges of this world with good emotion.
Antonyms of Self-Indulgence
Sometimes when we are defining a term, it is helpful to consider what the opposite of what term is.  An antonym of self-indulgence is self-restraint.  Self-restraint is the ability to control one’s self.  It is self-mastery.  Paul writes, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:27).  There were times whenever Paul had to say “no” to himself for his own spiritual benefit.  Another synonym is discipline.  Discipline is training in righteousness that is both positive through truth and negative through reproof, rebuke, and correction.  Both of these previous words relate to another antonym of self-indulgence which is self-control.  Temperance is self-control and it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  The contrast between the flesh and the Spirit is easily seen in the difference between self-indulgence and self-control.  A lack of self-control will lead to overspending, drug abuse, risky behaviors involving sexual sin, and even procrastination.  This virtue identifies with Christianity and is needed for a well-ordered society.  Often we want the benefits of Christianity without the responsibility of Christian living.
The Remedy for Self-Indulgence. 
True religion eliminates self-indulgence. Jesus came to save sinners from themselves (the lusts of the flesh).  True religion is a hard sell in today’s American culture.  People want cheap grace, ease and convenience, and the promises of God without obedience to the precepts of God.  The first step in solving the problem of self-indulgence is self-denial.  Jesus said, “…if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).  Self-denial is an essential step in preserving the value of the human soul in relationship with God (Matthew 16:25-27).  Jesus is the hope of the world because He is the savior of the world (John 4:42; I John 4:14).

Mankind’s biggest problem is sin.  What is sin?  “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is a transgression of the law” (I John 3:4).  “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death” (I John 5:17).  “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  Sin is a transgression of God’s law.  It is unrighteousness.  It is failure to do good.  There are at least nine words in the Greek New Testament that describe different aspects of sin.  Let’s consider a definition of each term and an example that illustrates it.  Each word emphasizes our need of a savior.
Sin (Harmartia).  “Missing the Mark”
Sin is a missing of the mark when the mark is God’s will and purpose for our life.  This is the most common word for sin in the New Testament (found 16 times in Rom. 6 and many other places). Whenever king Saul by pride and disobedience failed to do what God commanded him to do, he missed the mark.  Saul failed to obey the command of God to utterly destroy the Amalekites (I Samuel 15).  Saul and the people saved king Agag alive and the best of the livestock (I Sam. 15:9) in direct disobedience to God’s command (I Sam. 15:3).  Saul’s kingdom was taken away from him by the Lord because of his presumptuous sacrifice (I Sam. 13:8-14).  Samuel rebuked him for his disobedience and told him that his kingdom would not continue (I Sam. 13:13-14).
Transgression (Parabasis).
This word means to cross over the line.  It is a deliberate violation of God’s law by stepping over the line that God has drawn.  This sin can only be a sin of commission.  It is a deliberate and defiant disobedience.  It is found in Rom. 4:15 (KJV-transgression).  In Rom. 2:23, we learn that breaking the law dishonors God.  In Gen. 2:17, God gave Adam a clear commandment drawing the line regarding what fruit in the Garden of Eden that he was not to eat.  Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.  Later, after being tempted by satan, Eve yielded to the temptation and ate of the forbidden fruit.  Then, she gave some of it to Adam and he did eat thereof.  When they did this, they crossed the line God had drawn.
Lawlessness (Anomia).
Nomos is the Greek word for law.  The prefix “a” negates this word and so we have “without law” or “lawlessness.”  This term is found in I John 3:4 (quoted above).  A good example of this type of sin is found in the lawlessness of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2).  They offered strange fire before the Lord which He commanded them not.  The priests were commanded to get the fire to burn incense from a specific location (Ex. 30:8-9).  These men ignored this restriction and their violation of God’s commandment cost them their lives.
Failure To Hear (Parakoē).
This word is found in Rom. 5:19 and II Cor. 10:6 (KJV-disobedience).  Two different words are found in Heb. 2:2, “transgression and disobedience”).  Transgression is the deliberate breaking of the law of God and disobedience is failure or refusal to hear the law.  In Numbers 22, Baalim refused to hear the word of the Lord and his own donkey rebuked him for it.  Baalim was enticed to disobey God by the wages of iniquity (Num. 22:7; Jude 11).
Trespass (Paraptōma)–Falling Beyond.
This term in found in Gal. 6:1 and is translated in the KJV by the word fault.  The word refers to apostasy.  The idea of falling from grace.  Whenever a person listens to false teaching, he/she falls away from or beyond the teaching of the Holy Spirit.  Paul gives a good example of this in I Cor. 15:12 where he mentions that some among the Corinthian Christians were teaching that there is no resurrection of the dead.  Paul proceeds to show the dire consequences of such a doctrine in the following verses.  Giving heed to false teaching is clearly a falling beyond the word of God and puts us into apostasy which places the soul in peril of damnation.  Such manifests unbelief and unbelief will damn the soul (Mark 16:16).
Ignorance (Agnoēma-not knowing).
In Heb. 9:7, the writer informs us that according to the Mosaical Law, the high priest entered into the Most Holy Place once a year with blood which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people.  This word (errors) is found only once in the New Testament.  It describes sin from the perspective of “ignorance.”  It is ignorance of what should be known.  Knowledge of God’s sacred truth is a safe guard against sinning against Him.  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11).  In I Tim. 1:13, Paul revealed that, before he became a Christian, he was injurious, a persecutor, and a blasphemer against God.  He says that he did these things “ignorantly” in unbelief.  Luke gives the historical account of this conduct in Acts 7, 8, & 9.  Ignorance leads to unbelief which in turn leads to disobedience.
Failure to Stand (Hēttēma).
Sin always produces loss and defeat (Rom. 11:12; I Cor. 6:7).  In Romans, the KJV has diminishing.  In I Cor., it has fault.  Defeat is the opposite of victory.  If you sin against God, you are a loser.  Yet, most sin because they think they will gain some advantage.  Surely this is part of the deception of sin.  In Luke 22:54-62, Peter denied the Lord three times.  What do you suppose he thought that he would gain by doing this?   Perhaps he was afraid for his life.  But, when he denied the Lord, he lost something of great value–relationship with Jesus Christ.  After Jesus was raised from the dead, this breach of relationship was healed (John 21).
Without Reverence (Asebeia).
The profligate life dishonors God.  Sin manifests itself in a lack of piety towards God or irreverence.  In Rom. 1:18, Titus 2:12, and Jude 15, the KJV translates this word as ungodly or ungodliness.   Rom. 1:18-32 gives a general description of the ungodly by mentioning a list of twenty-three sins in vv. 28-32.  The word shows the attitude or disposition of heart of people who have no respect for God or the things of God.  They do not fear God.  Consequently, they participate in irreligious acts (sin).
Without Justice (Adikia).
Unjust acts directed toward other people constitute sin.  These acts are accomplished because of a scorn for justice and righteousness.  These attitudes and actions violate the law of love for neighbor.  They are iniquitous.  Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus is described as iniquitous (Acts 1:18).  This word is also found in Luke 16:8 and Rom. 1:18 (the unjust and the unrighteous).  Whenever king Herod murdered the innocent children in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas, he committed a gross act of unjustness (Matt. 2:16-ff).
Sin is multifaceted.  However, all sin dishonors God and challenges His sovereignty over us.  Many sins harm others and mar our own character.  Sin always destroys and damns.  Anyone who sins is a loser.  Hopefully, if you have gained an insight into your own sin, you will see your need of a savior and run to God who reconciles us to Himself by His Son Jesus Christ (II Cor. 5:17-21). Only through faith in Jesus and obedience to His commandments (I John 5:4; Heb. 5:8-9) can we be victorious (I Cor. 15:57).

Marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman who love each other and who meet the biblical and legal requirements to be joined together as husband and wife.  This relationship is dependent upon love and trust.  Trust in marriage means to place confidence in another person’s character, ability, strength, or words.  Trust is tied to virtue.  “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:10-12).  Virtue is moral excellence.  Whenever a person is morally pure and upright, then, others can trust in them.  They will speak the truth.  They will uphold righteous conduct and follow it.  Whenever, there are trust issues in marriage, virtue is missing in one or the other partner or both.
The Lack of Trust
There are various causes of a lack of trust.  Infidelity, lying, keeping secrets, and narcissistic abuse are among the common acts that demonstrate a lack of moral excellence and produce trust issues.  Each of these immoral acts violate the law of love.  Love is the highest moral virtue (I Cor. 13).  Authentic love produces virtue and forms the foundation of trust.  Paul reveals sixteen aspects of this love in I Cor. 13:4-8.  Love is:  long-suffering, kind, envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seekest not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believest all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, and never fails.  Consider the many facets of love revealed by Paul and apply these to the constituency of a solid foundation for trust.
Trust in Marriage
Trust provides a basis for the feelings of safety and security in marriage.  It is the basis of faithfulness, loyalty and commitment.  It makes one trustworthy, reliable, and dependable.  It produces honesty, intimacy and oneness. It produces a strong relationship that will endure the temptations and trials of life.
Rebuilding Trust in Marriage
Where there has been a breach of trust in marriage, there must be a rebuilding of character and specifically, virtue.  The pathway to oneness involves: confession of wrong doing, godly sorrow, repentance, forgiveness, reform, renewal, and recommissioning.  These steps involve a process that is executed over time and healing is facilitated when each step is taken seriously and the whole is accomplished.  Other valuable aspects of recovery involve:  listening to the other person with the intent to understand, empathy, taking responsibility for one’s own actions, and asking what is needed to heal and prevent recurrence.
No relationship is safe and secure without trust!  The highest virtue of the human heart is love and without pure, fervent, love there can be no trust because trust is dependent upon the virtues of the heart.

Paul declares by the Holy Spirit, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:1-5).  There are nineteen sins listed by Paul.  Two are the focus of this article:  lovers of self and lovers of pleasure.  These two sins combine to produce the peril of self-indulgence.
Self-Indulgence Defined
Self-indulgence is the unrestrained gratification of one’s own appetites including desires, passions, and whims.  There is a dynamic that needs to be considered.  It is the dynamic of impulsiveness verses intentionality.  The lusts of the flesh war against the soul.  When we act impulsively, we do not think about our words or actions or their consequences.  We merely act on habitual responses or act on the seduction of risky behavior.  The enticement of pleasure adds to the dynamic.  The pleasures of sin factor in to the intensity of temptation and create desire for that which is forbidden by God.  When we act intentionally, we pause to consider the choice of our words and actions and also their consequences.  This mindfulness produces a thought process that enables us to control our words and actions based upon a conscience ruled by God’s standard of righteousness.  Habitual responses become more intense over time and with continued practice they produce a reluctance to resist the object of desire.  In self-indulgence, we put our own interests above others including God.   Self-indulgence exhausts the energy needed in Christian living and service to God and others.  We are so preoccupied with our own needs that there is no time, energy, or money left to serve God.  We are spent.  We have spent all on self-gratification.
Synonyms of Self-Indulgence
Consider some of the following terms that are synonymous with self-indulgence.  Hedonism is the false philosophy where we pursue pleasure.  Indeed, we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.  When God is supplanted by anything else, we have made an idol out of that entity.  When we love pleasure more than God, we have made an idol out of pleasure.  God is supposed to be our “first love” (Mt. 22:36-39).  Covetousness is another synonym for self-indulgence.  Covetousness is the insatiable desire for more and more.  Paul actually says that covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5).  Egotism is another synonym.  Egotism is when we live in a self-centered way.  We have to have our own way or else we are unhappy.  Entitlement is another synonym.  Entitlement is when a person believes that everyone else in the world owes him/her something if not everything.  One thing is common to all of these terms: the self.  When we become self-indulgent, we become self-serving and we have made an idol out of self.
Antonyms of Self-Indulgence
Self-restraint and self-mastery are both antonyms of self-indulgence.  Both involve the ability to control speech and behavior.  Both involve the ability to say “no” to self and defer gratification.  Moderation is another antonym.  With moderation extremes are eliminated and excesses are eliminated.  We can find balance and practice it.  Discipline is an antonym.  Discipline is training in righteousness that produces the fruit of righteousness in words and works.   Righteousness is right living as God defines it in His Word.  Self-control or temperance is another antonym.  Self-control uses the powers of the mind, heart and will to bring the appetites of the flesh under the control of the Spirit of God.  It is a virtue of the heart.  It helps us avoid:  overeating, overspending, alcohol and drug abuse (including smoking), procrastination, and risky sexual behaviors.
The Antidote to Self-Indulgence
The antidote to self-indulgence is found through Jesus Christ.  The virtue of temperance is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  These fruits are born in the heart of those who are vitally connected to the vine (John 15:1-11).  Jesus is the vine and we must be in Him in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit.  Today, people want cheap grace, convenience in Christian living, and the promises of God without obedience to the precepts of God.  This spiritual state is self-indulgent and lacks discipline.  The Word of God provides the sacred knowledge that will reprove, correct, and instruct in righteousness.  We must hear it, believe it, and obey it in order to be saved from our self-indulgent selves.

The Kinsmen produced a song titled, Excuses, Excuses, You Hear Them Everyday!  The lyrics of this song include the following:
“Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day.
And the Devil he’ll supply them, if the church you stay away.
When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses
So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.”

Then, the song lyrics include a multitude of excuses commonly used by people to avoid religion. Here is an example.
“Well, the preacher he’s too young. And, maybe he’s too old.
The sermons they’re not hard enough. And, maybe they’re too bold.
His voice is much too quiet-like. Sometimes he gets too loud.
He needs to have more dignity. Or, else he’s way too proud.
Well, the sermons they’re too long. And, maybe they’re too short.
He ought to preach the word with dignity instead of “stomp and snort.”
Well, the preacher we’ve got must be “the world’s most stuck up man.”
Well, one of the lady’s told me the other day, “Well, he didn’t even shake my hand.”

In over fifty years of preaching, I have heard many excuses just like these!
Twice in the book of Romans, Paul uses the Greek word anapologētos which is translated, “without excuse” in Romans 1:20 and “inexcusable” in Romans 2:1.
First, rejecting God is inexcusable.  “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”   Paul affirms that the creation declares the power and glory of God.  The created universe is visible to all people.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Ps. 19:1-3).  When the truth that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him is suppressed, the consequences are disastrous.  Paul mentions: ignorance (Rom. 1:18); ingratitude (Rom. 1:21); idolatry (Rom. 1:23); immorality (Rom. 1:24-32); and impenitence (Rom. 2:4-6).  Individuals who will not turn to the Lord and obey Him will have to face the indignation and wrath of God (Rom. 2:6-11).  They have no one to blame but themselves because they are “without excuse.”
Second, attempting to supplant God in the matter of final judgment is inexcusable (Rom. 2:1).  The Jews judged the Gentiles with regard to moral law, but the Jews practiced the same immoral acts (Rom. 2:21-23) condemned in the law.  They attempted to judge others from a hypocritical state.  Paul states that this is inexcusable because they knew the law and did not obey it.  Another thought on judging others relates to the final judgment of God.  Only God can judge a person’s final standing before Him.  God will render to every man according to his works (Rom. 2:6).  Only God knows everything a person has thought, said, or done.  Only God knows the secrets of the hearts of men.  God is no respecter of persons and His judgment will be according to righteous judgment.  Failure to fear God is inexcusable!
Third, failing to fully obey the gospel of Christ is inexcusable.  In Matthew 22:2-14, Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of God.  The Parable of the Wedding Feast contains a section where the king enters into the the place where the guests were located and sees a man who did not have on a wedding garment.  The king asked, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?  And he was speechless” (Matt. 22:11-12).  The man was not properly attired and was immediately cast out (Matt. 22:13).  Wearing the wedding garment clearly stands for our effort to respond to the king’s goodness, grace, and requirements for enjoying the wedding feast.  In order to be in the kingdom of God, a person must be baptized into Christ and put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-27); he must have his sins washed away by the blood of Christ whereby he makes his robes white (Acts 22:16; Rev. 7:14); and he must walk in righteousness and true holiness (Heb. 12:14).  God calls us to holiness by His Word (I Thess. 4:7).  There is no excuse for not obeying the commands of God.
If you haven’t believed in God, feared the judgment of God or obeyed the gospel of Christ, why not?  Be careful how you respond!