Stewardship Of Leisureಮಾದರಿ

The Importance Of Leisure 

If you were asked to define leisure, what would your answer be? Would you define it as free time, recreational activity, a state of mind (a psychological state), a state of being (an attitude to life), or holistically defined where leisure is not distinguished from work?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines leisure as “freedom provided by the cessation of activities, especially time free from work or duties.”

Encyclopedia Britannica defines leisure as “freedom provided by the cessation of coerced activities, particularly time free from disagreeable work or duties.” 

Over the years, Christians have responded in radically different ways to leisure. Some never think of it because they are so busy in their daily work that they have little time left for what is commonly thought of as leisure activities. Others have condemned leisure activities as tools of the devil and a waste of time. Others take the opposite extreme view in which leisure activities become the focus of life. 

Some also view leisure as something to be reserved for retirement when there are much more limited obligations and more financial security. Yet, leisure is critical across the age-span; it is not just for retirees. As sleep recharges the body, time spent decompressing from constant demands energizes our spiritual lives.

It has been calculated that in a typical 70-year life span, a person spent on sleep - 23 years (32%); work - 16 years ( 22% ); TV - 8 years (11%); eating - 6 years ( 8% ) travel - 6 years ( 8%); leisure - 4 1/2 years ( 6% ); illness - 4 years ( 5%); dressing - 2 years ( 2% ) and time in church - 1/2 year ( 0.7%)

A lot of people think that living a life according to the principles of God is not enjoyable. 

Sardonic newspaper columnist and social critic H. L. Mencken once quipped that “puritans,” referring to serious-minded Christians, are “people who have a deep, foreboding fear that somebody, somewhere, might be having a good time.” 

This is a long way from the reality of the situation. Have you ever thought about what a biblical understanding of leisure might be? Do you think the Bible has to say anything about leisure at all? 

There are many verses in the Bible that make it clear that God does want us to enjoy ourselves. 

We live in a time and place where many struggle with enjoying the things we are meant to enjoy. Capacity for life comes from God and a lot of us are missing out on it!

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 tells us “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.” 

This passage teaches us that God is the one who gives us the ability to rejoice and enjoy life; so there’s nothing better for us than to rejoice. 

Remember that although leisure is not necessary for our existence, it is necessary for our well being. 

Quote: "It is sad to think how heart and time are so taken up with earthly things that we have no leisure to look to Christ and the things that belong to everlasting peace." Thomas Brooks

Prayer: Lord help me to draw a boundary around work and make time for leisure. Amen