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Why do we do the things that we do?
People do a lot of things for fun. People gossip and say things for fun. People sing songs or dance to the tune of offensive or sensual music. There are people who steal, kill, harm others or have sex with anyone. Some enjoy reading books or watching movies that glorify evil. Some people take drugs, smoke, drink or gamble, perhaps initially for fun. Some wear and do things to their bodies for fun. Some make fun of others or bully others online. Some write, draw, or paint images that disrespect God. Some Christians read horoscopes or go to fortune-tellers for fun, saying, “Lighten up! It’s just for fun.”
It seems that the word ‘FUN’ becomes a license to go beyond or outside what God allows or requires us to do. It gives us a pretty nice excuse to go against God’s Commands. And when we refuse to go with the ‘flow’, we face the consequence of being mocked, rejected, ostracized or simply ignored.
How can I forget the number of times I have been lost in the fun of things and have forgotten and dishonored God in my words and actions? Or the times I have complied or bent to what others think are fun at the expense of God? I honestly cannot count. There is always this temptation.
For we would rather please the world than please God. When do we decide what is good and evil? Can a person have fun and please God at the same time? Definitely! We can spend time with our family or friends doing all sorts of fun and good things that are pleasing to God and to us. God does not want us to be moping in the corner at all times, brooding over our sorrow.
But we need to be discerning as to what is truly fun for us. Better yet, we need to distinguish fun from joy. We need to constantly examine the purpose behind our actions. Fun often masks what is evil, sugarcoating it to make it appear good. Fun is like that little beautiful backdoor the devil uses to enter and occupy our thoughts and hearts. When we have regular moments of silence with God and seek to learn His Ways, we eventually seek to spend more time with Him. This allows us to be enlightened about what pleases God and what offends Him, until we reach the point when what is both fun and evil does not become the least fun for us anymore. When we realize that an act offends God, then it offends us as well, for we are children of God, heirs of heaven – which is our true home. Then what the world considers fun becomes meaningless, bitter and uncomfortable. Does God want us to be boring? Are we trying to ‘overspiritualize’ things? I’d say no. Salvation of souls is a serious matter. In fact, God takes it so seriously that He gave His Only Son so that His Home may be opened for us..so that we will not experience eternal sorrow.
It does not mean we have to be dead serious about everything – but serious in rejecting things which He rejects and loving things which He loves. God is the Author of all that is good. God is Love and God is Joy! When we do fun things that are good, then we delight in His Presence not in the name of fun but in the Name of God our Creator who knows true unending joy. When we knowingly offend Him, then we ourselves become sorrowful for sinning and for disregarding – or taking lightly – the Passion and Suffering of our Lord. As children of God, we must strive to aim high. We do not aim for empty fun that is fleeting and destructive to our souls, but for joy that overflows, one that is everlasting. Should we really choose to do something in the name of fun than in the Name of God who created us out of love?
Would we rather please the world than our Lord?
May God always make things crystal clear for us even through the fog of worldliness, and lead us to the joyful path of holiness.
To God be the glory.
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