Dodger: Hi there! How has August been for you so far? It's almost the end of summer vacation. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to school. Nonetheless, I'm going to enjoy as much fun as I can in these last few weeks of summer!
Lilly: It's been a good summer for me. We've visited together more this Summer than I think we usually do, and I'm hoping to see more of you during the school year. I really like being with you all.
Dodger: So, what's new?
Lilly: Well, I was thinking about fun.
Dodger: Come again?
Lilly: You know, enjoying yourself.
Dodger: Oh, okay. What about it?
Lilly: Is it a good thing?
Dodger: What do you mean?
Lilly: Well, did God want us to just have fun? I mean, there aren't a lot of occurrences in the Scripture that I can think of where God actually says "I want you to have fun". So is it really always okay just to have fun?
Dodger: Well, Lilly, to be honest, I don't quite get your question.
Lilly: How so?
Dodger: Well, let's try and think of it this way. Did God make you?
Lilly: Yes.
Dodger: Did He make the world pretty amazing?
Lilly: Oh, yes.
Dodger: Did God invent imagination and pass it on to you, or did you make it up from scratch?
Lilly: I'd have to say it was His idea. After all, imagination would be required in order to make something as amazing as this planet.
Dodger: You've hit on it, Lilly.
Lilly: Hit on what?
Dodger: The answer to your question.
Lilly: Wait, what?
Dodger: You said imagination would be required to make the world wonderful. You also said God gave you imagination. Imagination usually leads to having fun, does it not?
Lilly: Well, yes. Imagination can be used in a bad way too, though.
Dodger: You're right, sadly. Imagination is powerful for good or bad, depending on how it is used. However, just because it can be messed up doesn't mean we should avoid it when it's being used for good.
Lilly: So imagination, a major component of fun, is okay.
Dodger: Right. You see, Lilly, while it may be true that the gifts God give us can be used poorly, whether they are being eloquent, being likable, or something else, that is no reason to shun them. Fun is a gift from God. If He wanted us to be gloomy and serious all the time, He would have made us naturally that way. Some people misunderstand this, however, and think that they can do whatever they want since it's "fun". That's not true, but the other extreme of shutting out fun, happiness, and even joy, was never part of God's will for us.
Lilly: Does the Bible ever address fun directly?
Dodger: Well, as far as I know the Bible never specifically says "have fun", but it does have some verses that talk about rejoicing and even having parties. Check them out:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (the Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:4, NKJV)
"This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)
"Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)
Lilly: Wow. In other words, God is encouraging us in the Bible to be happy and celebrate and basically have fun!
Dodger: Exactly. There's a time for work and a time for play. Our lives should be balanced, so that we don't do one too much and neglect the other. It's just as important that we enjoy the lives God has given us as it is that we seek to serve Him with them. In fact, having fun can be a way of serving God, because you're doing something He had in mind for you! Think about that next time you're enjoying yourself. God set that fun up for you in advance because He loves you.
Lilly: Thanks, Dodger. That makes things a lot clearer...and cheerier.
Dodger: Don't thank me. I didn't invent fun, God did.
Lilly: Okay. Thank You, God, for inventing fun for us. We pray that we glorify You through it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Dodger: Amen. Well, looks like we've got to head out. Thanks for visiting us again! See you later! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: See you next time!
Lilly: It's been a good summer for me. We've visited together more this Summer than I think we usually do, and I'm hoping to see more of you during the school year. I really like being with you all.
Dodger: So, what's new?
Lilly: Well, I was thinking about fun.
Dodger: Come again?
Lilly: You know, enjoying yourself.
Dodger: Oh, okay. What about it?
Lilly: Is it a good thing?
Dodger: What do you mean?
Lilly: Well, did God want us to just have fun? I mean, there aren't a lot of occurrences in the Scripture that I can think of where God actually says "I want you to have fun". So is it really always okay just to have fun?
Dodger: Well, Lilly, to be honest, I don't quite get your question.
Lilly: How so?
Dodger: Well, let's try and think of it this way. Did God make you?
Lilly: Yes.
Dodger: Did He make the world pretty amazing?
Lilly: Oh, yes.
Dodger: Did God invent imagination and pass it on to you, or did you make it up from scratch?
Lilly: I'd have to say it was His idea. After all, imagination would be required in order to make something as amazing as this planet.
Dodger: You've hit on it, Lilly.
Lilly: Hit on what?
Dodger: The answer to your question.
Lilly: Wait, what?
Dodger: You said imagination would be required to make the world wonderful. You also said God gave you imagination. Imagination usually leads to having fun, does it not?
Lilly: Well, yes. Imagination can be used in a bad way too, though.
Dodger: You're right, sadly. Imagination is powerful for good or bad, depending on how it is used. However, just because it can be messed up doesn't mean we should avoid it when it's being used for good.
Lilly: So imagination, a major component of fun, is okay.
Dodger: Right. You see, Lilly, while it may be true that the gifts God give us can be used poorly, whether they are being eloquent, being likable, or something else, that is no reason to shun them. Fun is a gift from God. If He wanted us to be gloomy and serious all the time, He would have made us naturally that way. Some people misunderstand this, however, and think that they can do whatever they want since it's "fun". That's not true, but the other extreme of shutting out fun, happiness, and even joy, was never part of God's will for us.
Lilly: Does the Bible ever address fun directly?
Dodger: Well, as far as I know the Bible never specifically says "have fun", but it does have some verses that talk about rejoicing and even having parties. Check them out:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (the Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:4, NKJV)
"This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)
"Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)
Lilly: Wow. In other words, God is encouraging us in the Bible to be happy and celebrate and basically have fun!
Dodger: Exactly. There's a time for work and a time for play. Our lives should be balanced, so that we don't do one too much and neglect the other. It's just as important that we enjoy the lives God has given us as it is that we seek to serve Him with them. In fact, having fun can be a way of serving God, because you're doing something He had in mind for you! Think about that next time you're enjoying yourself. God set that fun up for you in advance because He loves you.
Lilly: Thanks, Dodger. That makes things a lot clearer...and cheerier.
Dodger: Don't thank me. I didn't invent fun, God did.
Lilly: Okay. Thank You, God, for inventing fun for us. We pray that we glorify You through it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Dodger: Amen. Well, looks like we've got to head out. Thanks for visiting us again! See you later! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: See you next time!
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