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