Are you having fun with life? What’s biblical enjoyment, and the way can we and people to whom we minister discover it? So many individuals transfer robotically by life and are not sure they’ve ever actually loved it. We should perceive enjoyment, select it, and expertise it in God’s methods. We will have the great life.
Perceive Enjoyment
Scripture distinguishes enjoyment from pleasure, though they’re associated. Enjoyment is the act of taking pleasure in one thing particular, whereas pleasure is a extra profound state of well-being that may come up from inside no matter exterior circumstances.[1] Normally, enjoyment is an expertise within the second; pleasure is a deep-seated and doubtlessly ongoing frame of mind. Each are important to residing a blessed Christian life.
How ought to we search and obtain enjoyment in our lives? Individuals have differing opinions. Some say that our life on earth is one thing we should endure as a result of, in any case, we’re simply passing by. They anticipate little or no. In reality, they might even really feel a little bit responsible if they’re having an satisfying second.
On the opposite excessive is the one that believes that life ought to at all times be upbeat and constructive. They may say issues like, “Sad faces replicate sinful hearts.” In spite of everything, God desires us to be joyful. In reality, they might argue that God ensures us solely happiness. We should be joyful! These excessive opinions remind us that the reality lies between full and sustained distress and uninterrupted bliss. How ought to we discover enjoyment?
Select Enjoyment
In Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth[2] tackles this query head-on and challenges us seven instances within the e book’s refrains[3] to take pleasure in life. He reminds his readers that, regardless of the challenges of life, they need to benefit from the blessings that come from the hand of God. These are His good presents to us (Eccles. 3:13). However how ought to we and people to whom we minister discover enjoyment?
The Bible is stuffed with promptings to decide on enjoyment. The Apostle Paul says, “God has given us all issues richly to take pleasure in” (1 Tim. 6:17). So, why do we have to select it? Why doesn’t enjoyment simply occur to us? Why does it seem to be enjoyment is extra of a call we make than one thing God merely brings into our lives? We should pursue enjoyment following God’s directions.
Search Enjoyment within the Proper Methods
We’ve thought-about Qoheleth’s causes for selecting enjoyment. Now comes the warning. Regardless of the great enjoyment might convey, it additionally has its shortcomings. First, if it’s all that you’re in search of in life, you’ll be able to anticipate disappointment (Eccles. 2:1-2). What’s extra, we can not anticipate enjoyment if we search it on the expense of different individuals (Prov. 22:16). Merely put, mistreating others will in the end convey us disappointment; expressing compassion towards others and their circumstances will convey us pleasure. Qoheleth says, “Rejoice and do good” (Eccles.3:12).
Second, an unbridled love for pleasure will result in poverty (Prov. 21:17). That’s why Qoheleth says, “the center of fools is in the home of delight (Eccles. 7:4). For instance, in search of pleasure to the neglect of our obligations to employers will get us in hassle, even perhaps terminated from our jobs. This may not solely damage our households and us but additionally, sarcastically, our enjoyment of life. For instance, in search of enjoyment from substance abuse or mistreating others to get what we would like won’t convey us pleasure.
Biblical enjoyment seeks a stability in all issues. Qoheleth as soon as stated, “Males put together a meal for enjoyment” (Eccles. 10:19). Clearly, that is neither an indictment of gluttony nor an invite to overindulge. Quite, it’s a name to savor a second or two with household and pals as we benefit from the every day routine of meals, notably on particular events.
Occasions God’s individuals, Israel, skilled enjoyment by God’s design have been within the calendar of festivals when individuals met each other for a time of celebration and worship. However even within the day-to-day routine of life, we must always search God’s reward of enjoyment in our household relationships. Qoheleth says, “Take pleasure in life with the spouse whom you like, all the times of your useless life which he has given you underneath the solar, as a result of that’s your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil underneath the solar” (Eccles. 9:9).
Our Best Enjoyment
Take pleasure in life! The excellent news is that we are able to take pleasure in God’s blessings with out denying or trivializing life’s struggling. What ought to we anticipate? Qoheleth urges us to hunt God-given pleasure in our every day experiences. However we should search for it. We should resolve to take pleasure in life. The Westminster Catechism reminds us that “The chief finish of man is to glorify God and revel in Him without end.” Our best pleasure will come from our relationship with God. The psalmist praises, “You at all times present me the trail that results in life. You’ll fill me with pleasure when I’m with you. You’ll give me infinite pleasures at your proper hand” (Ps. 16:11). Sure, it may be life for individuals who search it.
Questions for Reflection
- The place do you discover your best enjoyment?
- What is going to occur if we simply await enjoyment and never actively search it from the great hand of our loving God? How are you going to actively search enjoyment this vacation season?
- What’s our accountability to assist others discover enjoyment? Whose blessing will we be at present?
[1] AI overview of the excellence between pleasure and delight, December 10, 2024.
[2] Maybe Solomon, though the human creator, titled Son of David, King in Jerusalem, isn’t named within the e book. Qoheleth is the transliterated title of the e book.
[3] The seven enjoyment refrains are Eccles. 2:24-26; 3:12-14; 4:13-16; 5:18-20; 7:13-14; 8:15-17; 9:9-10.
