What does the Bible say about fun and entertainment?
Answered from the commentary of Henry Allan Ironside, Walter Scott, A. J. Pollock and 9 others
The Bible does not forbid all fun or recreation: bodily exercise profits a little, and games and amusements of an innocent character may be enjoyed under godly limits. But recreation must be kept in its place, with self-control, and must not hinder godliness or take the heart from God. The question is not only whether an activity is harmful in itself, but how it is used and where the heart is.
Worldly pleasures pursued for self-indulgence are condemned: they can draw the heart from God, weaken spiritual life, and leave only bitter regret. The love of pleasure above the love of God is a grave warning, and pleasures that gratify the flesh are passing and cannot satisfy. So believers are to seek their joy in the Lord, whose presence gives fullness of joy, and to use their liberty with care for others. Some writers reject worldly amusements outright, while others say no single rule can be made and allow recreation within godly limits.
Verses: Ecclesiastes 2:1, Ecclesiastes 2:2, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13, Ecclesiastes 5:18, Ecclesiastes 5:19, Ecclesiastes 5:20, Ecclesiastes 8:15, Ecclesiastes 9:7, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Ecclesiastes 9:9, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Psalms 16:11, Psalms 149:3, Proverbs 17:22, Proverbs 21:17, Proverbs 23:20, Proverbs 23:21, Proverbs 26:18, Proverbs 26:19, Isaiah 5:11, Isaiah 5:12, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 22:13, Isaiah 22:14, Luke 6:21, Luke 7:31, Luke 7:32, Luke 7:33, Luke 7:34, Luke 7:35, Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 5:4, Ephesians 5:5, Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 5:20, Philippians 4:4, 1 Timothy 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:5, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 Peter 4:4, 1 Peter 4:5
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Amusements
We can make no rule about entertainment. The buoyancy of youth demands a certain amount of liberty which, if kept under godly limits and controlled by godly principles, is all right. For my own part, I have no desire to visit exhibitions and other shows, not on the ground that these amusements are sinful, but simply because I am satisfied without them. Christ and His interests are enough. Besides, souls are perishing and eternity is nearing, and I have neither time nor inclination to mingle with the world in admiring its toys and sharing in its pleasures.
There are, however, many games and amusements of an entirely innocent character which we may freely enjoy without joining with the world. I am not too old to heartily enter into and thoroughly enjoy recreation with young people. Our homes should be bright, happy and attractive.
Anyone in reading the epistles can observe that in Paul’s many references to athletics, there is no suggestion that he in any way disapproves of the exercise in itself. The dangers are two: first, associations; second, excess. Be temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25), and be as careful of your companionships in your recreation as in the other affairs of life.
Jonathan takes a little honey, which speaks of the sweetness of natural things, not in themselves evil. These things must surely be approached guardedly, and taken, as it were, on the end of a rod. If we kneel down and gorge ourselves with them, as the mass of Gideon's army did, they incapacitate us for warfare. But there is much in nature that can be enjoyed by the freeborn soul without spiritual detriment. After all, "only man is vile" in the pleasing prospect about us; and scenery, the beauties of nature, needed bodily relaxation, and much else, can be a true refreshing to the Lord's wearied people. "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee." This is the divine rule. The world, among the "all things," is ours. But we are to use it and not to abuse it, or to be brought under its power. Here grace and the Holy Spirit alone can guide and check. Needed relaxation may degenerate into the engirded loins; cheerful intercourse into unholy levity which blights true spiritual growth. We are absolutely dependent upon the Spirit of God, but He is ever sufficient.
Oh, my dear ones, take heed to self-indulgence! It is so easy to slip into it, and we find it so much more pleasant than enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; soldiers on duty, not off duty. We will hear more of the bitter fruits of self-indulgence as we continue to meditate on the parents of Scripture: but meanwhile let us remember that "Temperate in all things", no matter whether chocolates, a book, or a hobby — as well as that in which Noah failed — is a good motto for every one of us parents.
Our walk is to be with carefulness, having the flesh under complete control; neither intoxicated with the delights of mere nature, which result in spiritual poverty, nor oppressed with the drowsiness that clothes a man with the rags of a lifeless morality. Neither let us behave as fools, but as wise men; watchful to lay hold of opportunities to turn the flying moments to good account, so that not one shall be wasted but all used up in the service of the Master.
(V. 4). Moreover, the passing merriment that the world finds in filthiness, indecent talking and buffoonery is unbecoming in the saint. The quiet, deep joy of praise, not the laughter of the fool, becomes saints (Ecclesiastes 7:6).
Verse 4. In the presence of Christ we shall find jesting unsuitable. It is not that he who walks in the light of God's countenance is not happy. There is not a cloud on the joy of him who is in the presence of God; but such a Christian feels what the things are which do not become him who is called to imitate God. That the world should find such things suitable is natural enough: but "as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool; this also is vanity," Eccl. 7:6.
En-haddah, the "fountain of exhilaration," makes us contemplate the Spirit as filling the soul with its proper joy. "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" says the apostle, "but be filled with the Spirit" — wherein is no excess. (Eph. 5:18.) How important is it to ask ourselves, what is it that I look to for recreation? what is it that bubbles out of me when I am glad? To pray when we are afflicted, that is well; but if we are merry, do we sing psalms? (James 5:13.) Is Christ our Deliverer from sin and wrath, and should He not be the the joy and brightness of our lives also — our very life? Certainly En-haddah is a most needed memorial to us, coming in the place it does; and we do well to give the most attentive heed to it.
Church Amusements.
It is in no spirit of satire that we place this subject immediately next to that of Church Work. God forbid. The theme is too solemn. The world is under judgment: Satan is blinding men's eyes while he leads them a few steps more over the brink into eternity. Hell awaits the unsaved. This earth is stained with the blood of Christ, who, when He was here, devoted every hour and moment to His Father's will. In such a world the Church must ever be a witness against the prevailing levity and indifference. How solemn, then, is it to hear men pleading for amusements — to attract the masses, to keep up the interest of the young people. The pleasure of God's people is found in the unspeakable joy of learning more of Christ. "In thy presence is fulness of joy." The craving after worldly amusements is the sure sign of an empty heart. "The full soul loatheth a honeycomb." When the heart is filled with Christ, His word, His works, there is no desire for the world's pleasures. Not that there is to be an ascetic severity in the child of God; far from it. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy." "They began to be merry." But how infinitely removed is this holy joy, this heavenly elevation of mind, from the vain levity of this poor world! Amusements in the Church do but form the taste for the fuller enjoyment of the same in the world. The Church entertainment is but the training-school for the theatre. Let us hear the word of God: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15).
Verses
- Ecclesiastes 2:1–21I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity. 2I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
- Ecclesiastes 3:12–1312I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life; 13yea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18–2018Behold what I have seen good and comely [it is] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith [man] laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him for that is his portion. 19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour that is a gift of God. 20For he will not much remember the days of his life, because God answereth [him] with the joy of his heart.
- Ecclesiastes 8:15And I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.