Does God please you? That question can be taken two ways: 1) Is God doing enough to please me? Or, 2) Am I satisfied with who God is and what He does? On a good day, the second approach is obviously the right one. One a bad day…? Before we discuss the word "pleasure" let's allow Psalm 100 to ask us some more questions:

• Does God make you joyful? - Psalm 100:1
• Does God make you glad and make you want to sing? Psalm 100:2
• Do you see your life coming from God, centered in God and going to God? Psalm 100:3
• Are you always ready to thank God, to praise God, & to bless His name to others? Psalm 100:4
• How much do you think about God's goodness, mercy, and truth? Psalm 100:5

The Bible has a lot of negative statements about pleasure. See the note below. God is not against pleasure (Psalm 16:11). God is concerned about what brings us pleasure and how that pleasure affects our lives.

The Westminster Catechism is famous for its opening question: "What is the chief end of man?" The answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." So, the real purpose or essence of life is two-fold. First, we should be glorifying or pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6). Second, we should enjoy or find pleasure in who God is and what He does (Psalm 73:25-26). To take pleasure in God and the things of God means "to savor", or "to taste and fully appreciate and enjoy."

Let's consider 3 areas of pleasure that God has given us to savor.

• Simple Pleasures - savor the moment!
  Such things as family, friends, food, rest, recreation, a beautiful sunset or view, music, art, etc. See Ecclesiastes 2:24; 5:18-19; 8:15; 9:9-10; I Timothy 6:17.
• Long-term Pleasures - savor the opportunities!
  Earthly benefits that are acquired and enjoyed by those who work hard, faithfully obey, and have patience with faith. See Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 127 - 128; Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 14:1; 15:6; 21:17,20; 24:3-5,27,30-34.
• Divine and Eternal Pleasures - savor the Savior!
  These pleasures shall be enjoyed now and forever. See Psalm 16:11; 36:7-9; Ecclesiastes 12.
  Enjoying God and His things is compared to the pleasure and satisfaction of food (Psalm 34:8; I Peter 2:1-3; Job 23:12; Isaiah 55:1-2; Jeremiah 15:16; John 4:31-34; 6:27,35). See also Psalm 34:1-3; 92:1-4; 95:1-3; 111:2; John16:33; 17:13; II Corinthians 12:7-10; I Peter 1:3-9; Philippians 4:4.

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Consider what things should not be our pleasure. Luke 8:14; II Thessalonians 2:12; I Timothy 5:5-6; II Timothy 3:4; Titus 3:3; Hebrews 11:25; James 5:5; II Peter 2:13 (Read whole chapter).