Satan is ever a cheat.
I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula. It is more certain; and it’s better style. To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return-that is what really gladdens our Father’s heart.
CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
And it’s built into us. Anybody that’s looked at dopamine hits understands that the brain can be wired to seek pleasure. Over time the pleasure that we get from that dopamine hit whatever it is from becomes less intense. Substituting discipline for quick dopamine hits results in satisfaction. It’s less intense but it’s also more fulfilling.
Yeah, my 17 year old brat found that out the hard way last year.
Quite correct. I know someone on his third divorce and still has not yet figured it out.
“Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable.” —Wormwood
An absolutely brilliant spiritual warning, in 30 words or less.