A faith for “this life only” sounds liberating, but it leads to indulgence.

The words “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”, are in quotation marks because Paul is quoting a popular proverb. This is what people were saying about life in this world, and the saying is so old that it was quoted by Isaiah in the Old Testament (Isa. 22:13). This is the wisdom of this world, as it has been through the ages. That’s why Paul goes on to say, “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning” (1 Cor. 15:34).

If people really believed that life in this world is all there is, you would think that they might focus their energy on doing all they could to make the world a better place. But, unfortunately, that is not the case. The reality is that when people come to believe that life in this world is all there is, they become increasingly self-indulgent.

Yes, there are examples of secular people living sacrificial lives. But across the mass of humanity, it is surely an observable fact that when people come to believe that this life is all there is, they pour themselves into gaining as much of this world as they can. They pack in as many experiences as possible, and they pursue as many pleasures as they can find.

And who can blame them? If this short life is all you’ve got, you had better hold on to all you have. If we “have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (15:19).

Would you say that you are spending your life trying to hold on to all you have, or living sacrificially for the sake of others? What does this tell you about your hope?