The Idol, Comfort

 Comfort and Pleasure.

 

Is there anything wrong with comfort and pleasure? No. The New Testament refers to God as the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. This suggests that comfort is a divine attribute intended to be shared. We are comforted so that we may comfort others. The Holy Spirit is described by Jesus as the Paraclete in John 14:16, often translated as "Comforter" or "Advocate." This implies that true comfort is a relational state rather than a material one

Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before You to examine ourselves fully. Are we truly putting You first, or are there hidden idols that we need to remove? As we discuss this complicated subject, we ask for your guidance. Please show us what it means for comfort to become an idol and how we can avoid this pitfall. Father, grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand Your truth. In Jesus' name, Amen!

We see things like this in the Word. Much of the prophetic literature, such as Isaiah 40: "Comfort, comfort my people," points to a future in which suffering is replaced by divine peace. The Bible presents a nuanced view of pleasure, acknowledging it as a creation of God while warning against its ability to become an idol. 

Ecclesiastes, often viewed as a cynical book, actually champions the enjoyment of life as a duty under God.

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

From this perspective, the pleasures of food, sex, marriage, and work are legitimate ways to experience God's goodness properly. Conversely, the Bible warns that when pleasure becomes the primary goal, it leads to spiritual emptiness. People seek out comfort and pleasure, forgetting the proper place for them. Think King David, who got lazy and bored, that lead to convetness, rape, and murder. 

Hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure, sensual self-indulgence, becomes a sin when you leave out the true source, which is God. The trap of Hedonism. 

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:25

 “Fleeting pleasures of sin." In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus warns that the Word of God can be "choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures" Luke 8:14.

 “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” 

We can easily turn pleasure and comfort into Idols that we choose to bend our knees to before God. Look at the story of the Rich man and his barns. 

“And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' Luke 12:15-19

Remember what Jesus called this guy? A Fool. 

“But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21

Seeking "ease" can lead to spiritual apathy and a tendency to ignore those in need. When we use pleasure as an escape or a substitute for worship, it can become an idol. I'm not inclined to go to church this week because I'm tired. I also feel that I can't donate money to the food bank; I need to keep it in my account to meet my own needs. 

Sex? Oh yeah, this can definitely become an Idol. Something that you are willing to serve REGARDLESS of the consequences. I told you this conversation I was having with a lesbian. I told her that sex was indeed a gift from God as long as you are doing it in His parameters. Marriage is one man and one woman for life. She said to me. “I will go to hell for some p____.”

Think about this statement. She said that she will go to a place of never-ending torment, pain, and sorrow, for a few minutes of perverted sexual pleasure?  Eternity for minutes. Think how horrible that is. “Yeah, well, I don’t believe in your God, so yeah, I would rather go to hell.” When they find out it is true, it is too late.

The biblical response suggests that comfort and pleasure are best experienced as byproducts of a life lived in alignment with God, rather than ends in themselves. As Psalm 16:11 states this, 

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

When comfort and pleasure become idols, it usually means we’ve prioritized our ease and safety over our obedience or growth. The Bible defines idolatry as anything that takes God’s place in our hearts. When we are more afraid of losing our "comfort zone" than of missing God’s calling, comfort has become a master.

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

If we only follow God when it is convenient or comfortable, we are not truly serving Him; we are serving our own convenience. The prophet Amos issued a stern warning to those who were "at ease in Zion." The problem wasn't the comfort itself, but the apathy that it produced.

"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! “ Amos 6:1

Comfort often acts as a spiritual anesthetic. It makes us numb to the needs of others and indifferent to our need for God.

Like the Rich man, God called him a fool because he sought ultimate security in his circumstances rather than in the eternal. Jesus’ invitation is the direct antithesis of the idol of comfort. A cross is an instrument of discomfort, sacrifice, and death to self.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23

Growth and discipleship almost always happen outside of the "comfort zone." If we cling to our comfort, we often lose the very life we are trying to protect. Everyone wants to be comfortable, but what happens when "feeling good" becomes the primary goal of our lives?

Ask yourself, do I avoid hard conversations? Do I skip serving because I’m tired? Do I prioritize my budget over generosity?

Jesus promises "rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30), not through total ease, but through taking on His yoke. Remember, we are new creatures. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ”2 Corinthians 5:17 

This is why we are warned over and over. Look at this in Titus 5:5-6

“She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.” 

I know Christians who feel God does not hear their prayers. James answers that one for us.  

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3

"But look what he has. Look what she has. It’s not fair." "Look, he gets to stay home. Why can’t I?" "Why can I not have the million-dollar house and that shiny sports car?" Well, let me ask you this. Is that house going to save you? Is that car going to enable you to drive to heaven? 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

We, as children of God, have so much more to look forward to. So much pleasure. So much comfort. So much rest we will never have here, for eternity. So, what is worth giving up? Eternity or momentary pleasure?

Remember, the devil cannot create anything, but he can twist, change, and present sin as good. God created male and female, while the devil promotes ideas like 27 genders and transgender concepts. God established the institution of marriage, but the devil introduced gay marriage. God defined the family, yet the devil presents alternative family structures, such as single-parent households, divorce, nursing homes, and daycares. God values rest and sleep, while the devil fosters laziness.

We have become so comfortable, so lazy, so into pleasure, that we reject nearly everything else. We feel that tug. “Hey, go check on your neighbor.” Yeah, ok, right after my show. Or God, I just sat down to eat. Then wherever you do decide to go, there is no answer at the door.

Well, God or whatever that was, she must be out with friends. She is not even here. The next day, you wake up to a loud commotion outside your window.  You look out and see police, firetrucks, and an ambulance.

You go outside and watch as a covered body is brought out to the ambulance. You see a paramedic standing by, so you ask, “What happened?” The paramedic looks up and says, “Sorry for your loss. Seems she fell and passed away about 5 pm yesterday.” 

Then it hits you. If you had gone when God asked you to, you would have heard her crying for help. You may have been able to help her. But that chair was too comfortable. That food was just too good. Some things, even with regret, cannot be undone. 

That bed. That chair. That big screen, that little screen, that little bubble you live in, are all temporary. They cannot, nor will they save you. However, if you are not careful, they can be made to keep you from doing God’s Will and living your life in abundance.

Join us next time when we will discuss the Idol of Religion. Yes, Religion can be an Idol. It happens more than you think.   

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!