General James Gavin wrote that the Army Air Force made paratrooper training as difficult and exhausting as possible. Nevertheless, the troopers always had enough energy to get into fights in surrounding towns. Even after punishing a group by marching them out all night and back the next day, many of those punished were back in town brawling on Sunday night.

This predisposition to pleasure—especially carnal pleasure—grows in us like barnacles on a ship. We have a legendary capacity to play and party. Duty we fulfill; pleasure we relish. We reluctantly yield to obedience but abandon ourselves to amusement. If Adam and Eve broke the one command God gave them, why would it surprise us that we break the ten God gave to Moses? Jesus intentionally made self-denial the heart of his teaching. He who gave his life to secure salvation offers discipleship only to those who surrender theirs to his direction.