Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus.

Today I am here to draw your attention to the personal act of self-gratification; what it means, and the danger of its practice. According to the dictionary, ‘self-gratification’ is the act of pleasing oneself or of satisfying one’s desires, especially those of a sexual nature.

Every living creature seeks self-gratification as a matter of survival. We feel hungry, so we find food; we are thirsty, so we search for water. Paul says in Romans, “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live (8:12-13).

So, if we live according to the flesh we will die; not only that, our “flesh” is our selfish part that leads to immorality.

Self-preservation propels us to eat when we’re hungry whereas self-gratification suggests that we eat more than we need because it tastes good. Self-preservation drives us to build houses that keep us warm and dry; self-gratification drives us to build nicer, bigger houses than anyone else has built. Self-preservation draws us to sexual union with our spouses to create intimacy and bring children into that union; self-gratification seeks the sexual act driven by lust which strips it from its original design and purpose.

So how can we win over self-gratification?

The apostle Paul says, “… let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions” (Gal. 5:16-17 NLT).Paul also said, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).

So beloved in Christ, I encourage you today not to live a life of self-gratification, but rather “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.”

God bless you.

Fredrick Omoh-John
September, 2023