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Pain Free or Live Free?


According to our commercials and seemingly endless barrage of pain reduction meds...we as Americans do not like pain.  Where does this absolute avoidance of pain come from? 

Where does this desire to only live for pleasure and minimize pain including any physical, spiritual, relationship, mental and emotional pain stem?

Is it Hedonism at it's finest? Hedonism being: The pursuit of pleasure and the ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.  Check out Epicurus's view.
 
" We recognize pleasure as the first good innate in us, and from pleasure we begin every act of choice and avoidance, and to pleasure we return again, using the feeling as the standard by which we judge every good.[Letter to Menoeceus]The Internet Encyclopedia on Philosophy.  Ethical hedonism is most associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (342-270 BCE.) who taught that our life's goal should be to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. In fact, all of our actions should have that aim."

Make it easy, pleasurable and minimize pain.  Selfishness. Pursuing pleasure.

Where oh where did our spine go? Oh where oh where can it be?

Selfishness enslaves, isolates, imprisons, erodes and kills.  

Do we want to live free or live for ourselves? 

As Believers we are to Deny Ourselves
  • Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3,4
  • 1 Corinthians 10:33
  • Romans 12:10
  • James 4:1-3 
Pursuing Pleasure is Vain
  • Ecclesiastes 2:1-11,12:8-13 
You are Not Your Own
  •  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33,34 

Embracing Hardships of the Cross
  •  As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:10,11( http://www.thefaithfulword.org/againsthedonism.html)

 I would be lying to say that I like and embrace pain.  In fact I have to face myself within this article.  I don't walk because it hurts.  I don't change because it hurts.  I don't confront because it hurts.  I focus on my needs and myself and my comfort. 

The absolute questions is:

Can I truly lay down my life and follow Him? 


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