In recent years, various mental health news and articles have highlighted the rise of instant gratification behaviour, or what is commonly referred to as instant pleasure addiction. These behaviours range from excessive social media use, impulse shopping, to excessive entertainment consumption under the guise of self reward. Many people find it difficult to quit, despite realising that the habit drains their energy, balances them out, disrupts their focus, and even slowly destroys their life balance. The researchers explained that the drive for immediate gratification can weaken self-control and make it harder to find deep satisfaction.

Proverbs 23:17-35 speaks candidly about similar struggles. The writer of Proverbs cautions, "Let not your heart envy the sinner, but fear the LORD always." Here, wisdom is described as something that must be "bought", not with money, but with a willingness to learn, hear counsel, and exercise self-control (v. 23). Wisdom demands process and patience, but yields a future that truly exists and a hope that will not be lost (v. 18).

In contrast, the next verse presents a stark picture of the pitfalls of momentary favours. Wine, for example, seems attractive at first, but in the end it “bites like a snake” (v. 32). Unrestrained enjoyment slowly steals the clarity of the heart and intellect, even making one lose sensitivity to oneself (vv. 34-35). What was initially sought as an escape, eventually becomes a bondage.

Friends of the Bible, Proverbs invites us to see that wisdom and favour offer different directions in life. Favour is quick to come, but just as quick to go. Wisdom, on the other hand, grows slowly, but sustains life as a whole. Wisdom often requires us to say "no" to certain desires, but it is through this that we find true freedom. So, let us not be reluctant to open our hearts to constructive advice. For when we choose wisdom, we are not just rejecting momentary favours, but rather building a life full of meaning, peace, and hope.