8821 self-indulgence
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8821 self-indulgence

Throwing off restraint and discipline and yielding to the desire to gratify selfish appetites and cravings. Scripture warns against such a characteristic and urges, instead, self-control, generosity and consideration for others.

The desire to satisfy selfish cravings

Ephesians 2:3 See also Romans 7:8; Romans 16:18; Titus 3:3; James 1:14; 2 Peter 2:18-19; 1 John 2:16

Examples of self-indulgent desires

Selfish ambition

James 3:14-16 See also Proverbs 18:1; Galatians 5:20; Philippians 1:17

The desire for one's own way

Isaiah 56:11-12 See also Deuteronomy 29:19; Esther 1:10-12; James 4:1-3

The desire for sexual gratification

Galatians 5:19 See also Genesis 19:5

Israelites' immorality with Moabite women:

Numbers 25:1; 1 Corinthians 10:8 2 Samuel 11:2-4 David's adultery with Bathsheba; 2 Samuel 13:11-14 Amnon's rape of Tamar; Proverbs 7:16-18 the lure of the adulteress; 2 Corinthians 12:21 sexual sin in the church at Corinth; 2 Peter 2:14 sexual desires of false teachers

The desire for wealth

James 5:3-5 See also Joshua 7:21 Achan; 1 Samuel 8:3 Samuel's sons; Jeremiah 22:17 Jehoiakim, king of Judah; Haggai 1:4 the people of Judah; Titus 1:11 false teachers in Crete

Indulgence in food and drink

Isaiah 22:13 See also Proverbs 23:20; Ecclesiastes 6:7

Abandoning restraint

Ephesians 4:19 See also Romans 1:26-31; 2 Timothy 3:1-4; Jude 7

The consequences of self-indulgence

Self-indulgence proves futile

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 See also Luke 12:18-21

Self-indulgence leads to ruin

Proverbs 21:17 See also Proverbs 6:26; Proverbs 23:21,29-32; Luke 15:13-16; 1 Timothy 5:6

Self-indulgence brings God's judgment

Romans 2:8 See also Proverbs 5:20-21; Philippians 3:19; Daniel 4:29-32 God's judgment on Nebuchadnezzar's selfish pride; Amos 4:1-2 God's judgment on Israel's pampered upper-class women; Amos 6:4-7 God's judgment on Israel's self-indulgent nobility; Luke 12:19-20

Dealing with self-indulgence

Receiving new life through Jesus Christ

Matthew 23:25 Dealing with self-indulgence requires an inner transformation. See also Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:21-23

Romans 13:14 See also Galatians 5:24; Titus 2:11-12

Living in accordance with the Spirit:

Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16

Seeking God's will

Psalm 119:36; 1 Peter 1:14; Peter 4:2

Self-control

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 See also Proverbs 23:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 1:6

Ruthless self-denial

Colossians 3:5 See also Daniel 1:8; Matthew 5:28-29; 1 Peter 2:11

Consideration for others

Galatians 5:13 See also 1 Corinthians 10:23-24; Philippians 2:3-4

Generosity

Deuteronomy 15:7-8; Luke 19:8

See also

5771  abstinence
5832  desire
5850  excess
5856  extravagance
5866  gluttony
5869  greed
6236  sexual sin
8339  self-control
8475  self-denial
8777  lust
8827  selfishness
9210  judgment, God's



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