You are Allowed to Enjoy Yourself!

Bible Introduction (2m)

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Not sin, but: late night snacking/online shopping/a long lunch/takeaway food/sleeping in late on a Saturday/celebrity crush/Facebook stalking/court report in Gazette/pretending to house hunt on RightMove/a reality TV show/chocolate/binge watching a series/taking all the grooming products from a hotel room/singing loudly in the car, etc.

Introduction (5m)

Do you remember the days when The Salvation Army banned Salvationists from taking part in “worldly pleasures”?

We were strict on what we saw as worldly or “bad” activities

Pub/club/dancing/cinema/football matches, etc.

We thought that Salvationists and Christians should only engage with spiritual pleasures

Worship/sacred music/fellowship.

This led to a false divide between sacred and secular that we’re still battling today

We separate things like hobbies, work and money from things like church, Bible study and prayer

Secular = fun/sinful/Spiritual = sacrifice.

But things we enjoy like socialising, a good film or sport are not always bad or unspiritual

Pleasure, thank God for them.

Some people feel guilty about pleasure derived through bodily senses. Whether it’s hearing beautiful music, or tasting a quality steak, or in physical intimacy in marriage, when they feel pleasure in these things, they immediately feel guilty, draining away any momentary joy.

[American revivalist preacher, Jonathan] Edwards says that through true religion we can put away our unnecessary scruples and seek, embrace, and enjoy the pleasure that God gives through the senses. Edwards writes:

“God has given us of his redundant bounty many things for the delight of our senses, for our pleasure and gratification. Religion is not a thing that makes these things useless to us, nor does it cut us off from the enjoyment of them.” (David Murray, Christian writer)

Pleasure is good in moderation - if it doesn’t become an idol

Explanation (5m)

God wants us to enjoy the life he has given us

Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 NIV - Anglicised

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.

The Preacher is talking about the good things in life

Good food/drink. Pleasure. enjoyment. Happiness. Not opposed to holiness! / Can enjoy life now - don’t have to wait until heaven!

However, his message is not: Don’t Worry - Be Happy!

Pleasure grounded/centred in God. His gifts. Not self-pursuit of luxury/money/happiness but accepting life’s pleasures from hand of God.

This is the first of similar refrains that, if taken out of their context, might seem to advocate a life of mere pleasure seeking. ... You can wear yourself out by trying to find the solution of life in nature and history. You can make the pursuit of luxury or money your chief aim. But you will end up in frustration because you are grounding yourself in this material world, which does not hold the key to satisfaction. Why not simply take your daily life from the hand of God? (J. Stafford Wright, Bible Study writer)

Our pleasure in and enjoyment of the good things in life is balanced with doing good for God and to others

Serve God and others. Enjoy it. Find pleasure in it. God’s work/ministry/service is a gift from God too - we can be grateful he has a purpose for us.

Application (5m)

What do you enjoy? What makes you happy or smile?

We must see God’s gifts of creation as windows into his glory and opportunities to praise him. But we must also find pleasure in them. We should thank God for our day on the lake, but we don’t need to say, ‘Praise you, Jesus!’ with each cast. We must thank God for our daily bread, but it’s okay to focus on the flavours of our sandwich while we’re eating it. (Michael Wittmer, theologian)

Make a list of those things, enjoy them and thank God for them

Is any of them sinful? Have you taken things too far? If not, resolve to enjoy them and thank God for them!

Next Steps

SB 394 - Thank you for every new good morning

THANK you for every new good morning, Thank you for every fresh new day, Thank you that I may cast my burdens Wholly on you. 2 Thank you for every friend I have, Lord, Thank you for everyone I know, Thank you when I can feel forgiveness To my greatest foe. 3 Thank you for leisure and employment, Thank you for every heartfelt joy, Thank you for all that makes me happy And for melody. 4 Thank you for every shade and sorrow, Thank you for comfort in your Word, Thank you that I am guided by you Everywhere I go. 5 Thank you for grace to know your gospel, Thank you for all your Spirit?s power, Thank you for your unfailing love Which reaches far and near. 6 Thank you for full and free salvation, Thank you for grace to hold it fast, Thank you, O Lord, I want to thank you  That I?m free to thank! Martin Gotthard Schneider, trs and adapted by S. Lonsdale and Michael Baughen © 1964 Gustav Bosse Verlag, Regensburg KG, Regensburg/Germany and assigned to Novello & Company Limited trading as Bosworth & Company for the British Commonwealth and the USA. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used by permission of Novello & Company Limited trading as Bosworth & Company. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 394

Questions for Reflection/Small Group Discussion

Is pleasure sinful? Why or why not?

What does our passage in Ecclesiastes tell us about what God thinks of pleasure?

How can you worship God through the enjoyment of the things that make you happy this week?

Prayer Subjects

That those who are struggling at the moment will find pleasure in something over the coming week.

For our frontline workers in the NHS, care sector and emergency services.

For the leisure sector in our town - that it would enable people to enjoy themselves safely and within good boundaries.