What Does the Bible Say about Fun?

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Fun According to God’s Word

“This is fun!” “I had so much fun yesterday.” “We did this just for fun.” These are expressions that we have either said ourselves or have heard from others. Have you wondered what the Bible says about fun? Let’s find out!

FUN

According to Cambridge Dictionary, the word ‘fun’ has three meanings:

fun as a noun (pleasure)

pleasure, enjoyment, or entertainment

Examples: We had great fun at the beach. I really enjoyed your party – it was such good fun.

for fun (also for the fun of it)

for pleasure:

Example: I ran but just for fun.

make fun of sb/sth

to make a joke about someone or something in a way that is not kind:

Example: The other children were always making fun of him because he was fat and wore glasses.

fun as a noun (game/joke)

behaviour or activities that are not serious; games or jokes:

Example: The children are always full of fun. I  didn’t mean to upset her – it was just a bit of fun. I didn’t mean what I said, it was only in fun (= a joke).

fun as an adjective

giving pleasure, especially because of being not at all serious:

Example: There are lots of fun things to do here. Did you have a fun evening?

(of a person) enjoyable to be with, especially because of not being serious:

Example: He’s a really fun person. I love my friends as they are so fun and creative. Now that we have learned about the different meanings of the word ‘fun’, we want to search this word in the Bible. My preferred way to do is to go to Blue Letter Bible and enter the word ‘fun’. Now I take some of the verses I got from my search and match them with the definitions we got from the dictionary.

fun as a noun

Proverbs 10:23 NLT So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT

for fun

They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Proverbs 1:11 NLT

make fun of sb/sth

But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. Genesis 21:9 NLT So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children. 1 Samuel 1:6 NLT Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” 1 Kings 2:23 NLT Proverbs 14:9 NLT This is what the LORD says about him: “The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you; Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you. 2 Kings 19:21 NET As we can see from the examples of Bible verses, the meaning of the word ‘fun’ mainly has a negative meaning. It is used in the sense of mocking someone. When used in a positive way, it refers to some pleasure that is rather a temporary experience while living on this earth. God uses this word only one or two times and in a negative context. Searching the word “fun” didn’t give me any other meaning than the ones I mentioned above. I think we should try a synonym of fun such as pleasure/delight.

pleasure/delight

When searching Bible verses about pleasure/delight, we can learn that pleasure/delight is a gratifying emotion which describes both human and divine emotions. While we should take pleasure in every aspect of God’s creation, we should not put our pleasure in the creation above the pleasure in the Creator Himself.

God’s pleasure/delight

That which gives God pleasure/delight

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; Psalm 37:23 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. Proverbs 11:20

Human pleasure

God provides everything for the enjoyment of life

So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be joyful, and this will stand by him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15 NASB As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

Pleasure in human physical relationships

How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! Song of Solomon 4:10 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; Song of Solomon 1:2 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Song of Solomon 2:3 How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights! Song of Solomon 7:6

Such pleasures are not satisfying in themselves

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.  I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

True pleasure is found in the things of God

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, Romans 7:22 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation. Psalm 35:9

Pleasures may also be misleading or positively sinful

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Luke 8:14 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. Titus 3:3 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22 Who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, Proverbs 2:14 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:4

Conclusion

In many passages of the Bible the word “fun” has a negative notion and has the meaning of making fun of someone/mocking someone. The word ‘fun’ used in a positive context in the Bible refers to some pleasure that is rather a temporary experience while living on this earth. If it is used in the sense of pleasure/delight, it is a gratifying emotion which describes both human and divine emotions. While we should take pleasure in every aspect of God’s creation, we should not put our pleasure in the creation above the pleasure in the Creator Himself.

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