Sustenance Vs Pleasure

Sustenance vs. Pleasure – What Are You After?

Choosing between what we need and what we want.

Our scripture for today is Matthew 4:4 (NLT):"But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Ever reach for the chocolate cake when you know the salad is the better call? Yeah, me too. And it’s not just food—we do this in all parts of life: binge-watching instead of resting, gossip instead of grace, comfort over calling. Let’s unpack this whole “sustenance vs. pleasure” thing together!

Let’s get real—how often do we go for the quick fix instead of what will actually fill us up? Let’s start by figuring out what we’re really hungry for.

I mean, how many of us have raided the pantry looking for something sweet, only to realize we were just tired or bored? You realize that the healthy part of you did the shopping that week.

But I guess you could think of it this way: our cravings don’t always match our needs. The same goes for our spiritual life. We chase “feel-good” stuff but still feel empty. Why? Because we’re looking for pleasure when our soul is asking for sustenance.

Think about what you’ve been reaching for lately—has it been true sustenance or just short-term pleasure? What’s something in your life that might need a little more “soul food”?

One time—okay, really a lot of times—I’ve had this “healthy eating” goal… until I met a slice of triple chocolate cake or something gummy (I like gummy things). And afterward? I felt full—but not nourished. It’s a silly story, but it reminds me how often I pick what feels good instead of what is good. And that pattern sneaks into so many areas of life.

It’s true, I’ve chosen to eat something unhealthy and ended up feeling full, but at the same time, not full. It was my body saying, “Yeah, you ate it, but it wasn’t nourishment—so I’m still looking for that.” But because I was full, I couldn’t really take anything else in.

Sometimes we just take in whatever, and forget to be mindful—because when we fill ourselves with junk, we may not feel like we have the capacity to take in anything good. So we end up feeling bad and still not fulfilled.

Ever treat your spiritual life like a drive-thru? A quick verse here, a podcast there, and we call it “spiritual nourishment.” Sure, we’ve got to get things done sometimes, but when we’re just checking off the list, we forget that our souls need more than fast food—they need full meals.

We need to be intentional with our prayers, our time in the Word, and with real community. Those are the things that stick to your ribs—spiritually speaking.

You know the pleasure trap—where we chase feel-good moments that fade fast instead of lasting peace that sticks.

Social media likes, online shopping, that third episode of the show—we all want that instant “feel-good” hit. But discipline builds deeper satisfaction. There’s a reason finishing a big goal feels better than scrolling for two hours. Pleasure fades. Purpose satisfies.

I love a cozy blanket and a night in as much as the next person—well, maybe more. I’m one of those people who, when I sit down on the couch, I have a blanket.

Regardless, comfort can become a distraction.

Comfort can keep us from going after new things. But on the flip side, when we chase pleasure all the time, we risk missing the growth God’s trying to give us.

Growth usually happens in the stretching, not the relaxing. So we need to seek the Lord no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

Remember our scripture for today—Matthew 4:4 (NLT):"But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

When I was younger, I didn’t drink a lot of water. In fact, I just didn’t care for it. When I was a senior in high school, I decided to give up all caffeine because I realized I was drinking way too much of it. So I just stopped altogether… I slept for about two days straight, it seems! But in place of it, I started drinking water—and before I knew it, I had started craving more water.

I didn’t drink caffeine again until I had all my kids, so I was caffeine-free for 12 years. Isn’t that funny? Sometimes when we strip away what’s pleasurable, we start to crave what actually sustains.

To this day—though I do drink caffeine in the form of coffee mostly—I still love and crave water. Once we introduce peace, comfort, and love from God and focus on that being what sustains us, we’ll crave it more and more.

Pleasure isn’t bad—it just isn’t the main thing. God gives us joy, fun, and laughter—but also balance, wisdom, and discernment. Don’t let short-term fun rob you of long-term fullness.

Choosing sustenance over pleasure isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a daily decision. And it’s not about guilt; it’s about growth and grace.

Small choices matter. Maybe it’s five minutes in prayer instead of checking your phone. Or water instead of soda. Or grace instead of gossip. Little shifts lead to big change.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He could’ve chosen immediate comfort—but He chose spiritual sustenance. “Man shall not live by bread alone,” He said. That’s our scripture for today, found in Matthew 4:4.

Jesus knew that God's Word fills deeper than any shortcut ever could.

Temptation will always be in this world, but when we are able to stand firm in our beliefs and know what we need to do, we can do just like Jesus and say, “Get out of here, Satan!” Don’t settle for less—look to the Lord and know that He is the One who truly sustains us.

True sustenance brings peace, endurance, and strength. Pleasure is like cotton candy—fun for a second but gone fast. But when you feed your heart, mind, and soul with truth, you’re building a foundation that holds up.

Next time you face a choice—whether it’s what to eat, what to watch, or how to react—ask yourself: Will this feed me or just entertain me?

Let’s be people who choose the deeper things.

Choose the bread and water that God gives—that’s the life that sustains.

It’s okay to enjoy the occasional treat, the fun moment, the feel-good stuff. God gave us joy for a reason!

But let’s also remember to feed what matters most: our hearts, our souls, our walk with Him. Because in the end, it’s not the chocolate cake that gets us through hard times—it’s the Word, the truth, and the peace that only God can give.