Why can't we love pleasure and love God at the same time?

Paul seems to assume that we can't, and it's a text that confuses a podcast listener,

named Gabriel, who writes and asks this, hello, Pastor John, and thank you for Aspastor

John.

My question is about that phrase in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 4, lovers of pleasure rather

than lovers of God.

Does this establish a dichotomy between seeking pleasure and seeking God?

If so, why is it impossible to do both?

Why can't we love pleasure and love God at the same time, Pastor John, what would you

say to Gabriel?

It is about time that we get this question.

I mean, we are Christian hedonists and there are text just crying out for attention,

so let's put the text in front of us.

Here's what he says, 2 Timothy 3, 1 to 5, in the last days there will come times of

difficulty.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient

to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control,

brutal, not loving, good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, and here comes lovers

of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness but denying the

power.

Love always such people.

Now Gabriel is certainly right to flag this text as something that needs special attention,

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