Is it Godly to live a lifestyle of fun?

Message / Question

Hi Dave, what have you found the most enjoyable thing in your sixty something years of life? What activity has made you the happiest? Is it Godly to live a lifestyle of fun?

Response

I would certainly consider that my most satisfying experiences in life all relate to family. Marriage, birth of children, children’s marriages, birth of grandchildren – these are things that stand out as life’s key memories. For me, probably one of the greatest things has been to see each of my children grow into amazing and wonderful adults, each of who loves God and serves him in their own way. That makes me happy, and I’m sure that it makes God happy as well! Of course other things are important – graduation, special sporting moments and other such personal milestones all of these were special and were times that created happy memories. Jesus came to give life in its fullest sense, and that certainly doesn’t mean life that is filled with sadness and disappointments. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks “What is the chief end of man?” and answers “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

God wants us to know Him and to enjoy knowing Him both now and for all of eternity. Certainly the “now” part of our life is one that can be filled with happiness and lots of fun – and God most certainly approves of that! Obviously, our humanity can spoil things for us and we can seek “fun” in ways that that may bring God displeasure and such things are clearly not the way to live a godly lifestyle. However, to live by God’s standards and enjoy the life and resources that He has given to us is good – and in that process we can have a “fun” lifestyle that is both Godly and appropriate.