Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding

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The following comes from Poor Richard’s Almanac:

Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding.

I would suggest reflecting on this statement. I believe there is profound truth here. We live in a world in pursuit of pleasure. In its pursuit of pleasure it wastes its understanding.

The following also come from Poor Richard’s Almanac:

Deny Self for Self's sake.

Against Diseases here, the strongest Fence,

Is the defensive Virtue, Abstinence.

Keep thou from the Opportunity, and God will keep thee from the

Sin.

I grew up in a home that was opposed to drinking, smoking, gambling, dancing, swearing, profane or obscene language, and licentious, immoral conduct. The basis of these biases is religious. Christianity is supposed to be about clean, straight, moral, virtuous living. I have maintained these values and, at the age of 82, I strongly endorse them. They have provided a strong foundation for my life. Central to the reason for these biases is man’s proneness toward lust, licentiousness, lewdness, depravity. Following is some scripture on the topic.

Eph 4:17-32 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord,

that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles

walk, in the futility of their mind, {18} having their

understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God,

because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the

blindness of their heart; {19} who, being past feeling, have

given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with

greediness. {20} But you have not so learned Christ, {21} if

indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the

truth is in Jesus: {22} that you put off, concerning your

former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to

the deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your

mind, {24} and that you put on the new man which was created

according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. {25}

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth

with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. {26} "Be

angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your

wrath, {27} nor give place to the devil. {28} Let him who stole

steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his

hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who

has need. {29} Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,

but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart

grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of

God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31}

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be

put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one

another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in

Christ forgave you.

Rom 13:12-14 Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,

and let us put on the armor of light. {13} Let us walk

properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in

lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. {14} But put on the

Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to

fulfill its lusts.

Eph 5:1-12 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

{2} And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given

Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-

smelling aroma. {3} But fornication and all uncleanness or

covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting

for saints; {4} neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor

coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of

thanks. {5} For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean

person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any

inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. {6} Let no one

deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the

wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Alcohol consumption is a big part of life in almost every country and culture in the world (with the exception of some of the Islamic countries). Alcohol is a gateway to immoral behavior. If you don’t drink, it will be much easier to be a good, virtuous person. If you wish to be virtuous, stay away from alcohol. The fun-loving, party-loving, depraved crowd won’t want you around.

See:

These things go together

On Self-Denial

11 Dec 21