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Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. "Pleasure" is a word used in Scripture to denote, not lawful and wise enjoyment, but a carnal sensuousness which often leads to sensuality. We see what an absorbing power pleasure is, and how by degrees it destroys the sense of duty and ignores the voice of conscience.

I. HERE IS A GREAT FORCE. "Lovers!" Love will surely be exercised in some form. Sin is perversion. We are so constituted as to love something. There is an enthusiasm of evil. Men delight in sin; and so the forces of the soul run to weeds.

II. HERE IS A WRONG OBJECT. Pleasure - instead of God. What a contrast! We find that there is sometimes an aesthetic sensuousness that finds pleasure in immoral "art" - where God is not, where there is no reverence, no righteousness, no purity, no goodness. And men worship before the shrine of pleasure till they become idolaters, worshipping worldly applause, fleshly satisfaction, and carnal joy. There is a pleasure that is lawful and healthful; without it brain and body, mind and heart, suffer; but it must ever be subordinated to an earnest life and a godly devotion, or we become "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." - W.M.S.

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KJV: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

WEB: traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;