In the last days, many will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, making an idol of pleasure and pleasure-seeking. The great God of the universe does not intend for us to disparage pleasure, as the drive-reduction mechanism reflects an aspect of His mind, something He pronounced good and wholesome after creating man. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with legitimately satisfying the desire for pleasure, provided it does not become our overriding obsession and we adhere to God's rules, engaging spiritual laws that bring about His desired ends. Paradoxically, setting our minds upon pleasure as an end in itself will yield no lasting pleasure. Solomon warns that he who loves pleasure will be a poor man, and he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. God expresses concern about the consequences of setting our hearts upon temporary pleasures, highlighting the dangers of excess and distraction from a more satisfying, permanent source of pleasure. If we devote our entire beings to the pursuit of pleasure, we will not be satisfied with a little; like an addict, we will always crave more without finding fulfillment. God desires us to direct our affections toward enduring things that will truly satisfy us, bringing lasting joy without regret or unpleasant aftereffects.

In these last days, perilous times of great stress and trouble will come, characterized by the presence of individuals who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. These people, driven by misdirected love, prioritize self, money, and pleasure over a devotion to God, contributing to a society marked by self-centeredness and immorality. Their behavior fosters a breakdown in human relationships, manifesting in pride, arrogance, and a host of negative traits that define the times of stress faced by the church. This godless self-centeredness stands in stark contrast to the call for believers to place God first, loving Him with all their heart, body, mind, and strength, and to serve others rather than indulge in personal pleasures. As Paul warned Timothy, such individuals within the church and society oppose the truth, spreading evil and heresy, and their influence creates dangerous seasons that believers must resist by standing firm in God's truth.

Solomon, in the prime of his wealth and power, tested himself with mirth and pleasure, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 2:1, declaring, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure," only to find it vanity. He immediately concluded that such pursuits were futile, like grasping for the wind, leaving him empty with nothing to show for his efforts. In Ecclesiastes 2:2, he called laughter madness and questioned what mirth accomplishes, labeling the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake as insanity and a total waste of precious time. Despite living life to the fullest—drinking wine, partying, spending lavishly, building, gardening, collecting rare items, enjoying music, and indulging every desire—Solomon found no lasting satisfaction. In Ecclesiastes 2:11, he reflected on all his works and labor, finding them vain and without profit under the sun, realizing that even with the best of everything, these accomplishments meant nothing in the things that truly matter. He grimly reiterated in verse 17 that he hated life because all his work was distressing and vain, achieving nothing without God. In Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, Solomon concluded that true enjoyment and lasting well-being come only from the hand of God, for without Him, there is no real joy in labor or life. He noted that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who are good in His sight, while sinners labor in futility, their efforts ultimately benefiting the righteous. Thus, the only satisfying way of life is one lived under the guiding hand of God; any other way is useless and unproductive.