I read a Facebook post from the daughter of a friend this morning that truly captured the zeitgeist of the day. It’s premise was that personal happiness based on one’s own personal preferences is the highest level of human achievement and a worthy way to live one’s life. That seems to be what has gotten this country and the entire world into a state of denial and decay. Self denial and allegiance to a goal higher than one’s own gratification is the single thing that leads to personal happiness and the betterment of society, but only if that higher goal is to follow the commandments of Jesus.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
This says nothing about self gratification.