Easy Pleasure, Empty Soul
Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
We’re more stimulated than ever, yet somehow more empty. Easy pleasure is everywhere: scroll a little, snack a little, stream a little, and repeat. But Solomon reminds us, craving doesn’t equal satisfaction. Diligence, not desire, leads to a soul that’s richly supplied. Our bodies weren’t designed for constant hits of stimulation without purpose.
Dr. Andrew Huberman explains that dopamine, our internal motivation and reward chemical, operates like a reservoir. When we flood it with cheap dopamine hits such as junk food, porn, or constant scrolling, we deplete the baseline and leave ourselves feeling unmotivated, anxious, or numb. The more we indulge, the less we enjoy. It’s not that we’re doing too much; it’s that we’re doing too little of what truly fills the soul.
Spiritual laziness feels good in the moment but leaves us hollow. We crave God’s presence but don’t press in. We crave meaningful community but avoid the awkward conversations. We crave purpose but resist the process. Those who commit to the diligent path by showing up, staying disciplined, and practicing presence will find themselves richly supplied, even if the process is painful.
Daily Action:
Fast from one “easy hit” today, whether it’s social media, sugar, or streaming. Replace it with something purposeful: prayer, movement, meaningful conversation, or silence.
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to crave and come up empty. Teach me diligence. Help me hunger for what truly satisfies and build the discipline to pursue it. Train my soul to choose what is lasting over what is easy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
We’re more stimulated than ever, yet somehow more empty. Easy pleasure is everywhere: scroll a little, snack a little, stream a little, and repeat. But Solomon reminds us, craving doesn’t equal satisfaction. Diligence, not desire, leads to a soul that’s richly supplied. Our bodies weren’t designed for constant hits of stimulation without purpose.
Dr. Andrew Huberman explains that dopamine, our internal motivation and reward chemical, operates like a reservoir. When we flood it with cheap dopamine hits such as junk food, porn, or constant scrolling, we deplete the baseline and leave ourselves feeling unmotivated, anxious, or numb. The more we indulge, the less we enjoy. It’s not that we’re doing too much; it’s that we’re doing too little of what truly fills the soul.
Spiritual laziness feels good in the moment but leaves us hollow. We crave God’s presence but don’t press in. We crave meaningful community but avoid the awkward conversations. We crave purpose but resist the process. Those who commit to the diligent path by showing up, staying disciplined, and practicing presence will find themselves richly supplied, even if the process is painful.
Daily Action:
Fast from one “easy hit” today, whether it’s social media, sugar, or streaming. Replace it with something purposeful: prayer, movement, meaningful conversation, or silence.
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to crave and come up empty. Teach me diligence. Help me hunger for what truly satisfies and build the discipline to pursue it. Train my soul to choose what is lasting over what is easy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No Comments