INTRODUCTION: Fall of the Roman Empire – “Available to us is the work of Edward Gibbon who, in 1787, after 20 years of labor, completed his The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire . In it he attributed the fall of the Empire as being

• ‘The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.’
• ‘Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.’
• ‘The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.’
• ‘The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.’
• ‘The decay of religion—faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to ward and guide the people.’ ”

from The Seven Laws of the Harvest by John W. Lawrence (page 26).

1. THE EARTHLINESS OF LOVING PLEASURE
1. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. (Psalm 147:10)
2. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.  (Psalm 147:11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
   See All...)
3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  (Titus 3:3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
   See All...)
2. THE EMPTINESS OF LOVING PLEASURE
1. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
   See All...) (Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 [1] I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. [2] I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? [3] I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. [4] I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: [5] I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: [6] I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: [7] I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: [8] I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. [9] So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. [10] And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. [11] Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
   See All...)
2. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
   See All...)
3. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.  (1Timothy 5:6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
   See All...)
3. THE REBELLION IN LOVING PLEASURE
1. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.  (Isaiah 58:3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
   See All...)
2. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:  (Isaiah 58:13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
   See All...)
3. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  (2 Peter 2:13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
   See All...)
1. Do You Love Him? – “True Christians are differenced and distinguished not only from all heathens and infidels, but also from all bare nominal Christians, by their love to Jesus Christ. It is the property of covetous persons to love worldly wealth and riches. It is the property of ambitious persons to love worldly honor and dignities. It is the property of voluptuous persons to love sensual pleasures and delights; and it is the property of true Christians to love Jesus Christ, whom they have never seen.” –from The True Christian’s Love to the Unseen Christ (page 11) by Thomas Vincent (1634-1678).
4. THE DANGERS OF LOVING PLEASURE
1. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.  (Proverbs 21:17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
   See All...)
2. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (Luke 8:14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
   See All...)
3. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (2 Timothy 3:4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
   See All...)
4. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  (Hebrews 11:25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
   See All...)
5. THE END OF LOVING PLEASURE
1. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  (Romans 1:32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
   See All...)
2. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.  (Isaiah 21:4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
   See All...)
3. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:  (Isaiah 47:8Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
   See All...)
4. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  (2 Thessalonians 2:12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
   See All...)
5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  (James 5:5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
   See All...)

CONCLUSION: A Nobler Ambition – The following poem though anonymously written, is found in The Song of the Soul Set Free by S. Franklin Logsdon (page 22). See Galatians 4:19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
See All...; Ephesians 3:17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
See All....