Have a Little Fun! Ecclesiastes 8: 15-17; John 16: 20-24
In 2002, a movie called Signs came out and made quite an impact on viewers around the country. It tells of a family withstanding an alien invasion in their rural small town. As folks get more and more nutty about what they think is happening, wearing tin foil on their head and so forth, the title character has a very memorable line. He says, “Everybody needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something.” I have since discovered that this phrase makes for wonderful sarcastic humor in a situation but doesn’t necessarily translate to great pastoral advice.
As we finish up our series on self-care, we look at the idea that we need to have a little fun sometimes in life. I believe that, in this day and age of incredible angst and worry, perhaps those words from a scary movie may well hold weight, “Everybody needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something.” And it’s very possible, that the Bible supports just that very idea.
In Ecclesiastes 8, we hear that same idea echoed. The writer says, “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 is a book filled with tough references and teachings, and, at times, can lead us right up to the brink of nihilism, an old philosophy that says very simplistically that all of life is meaningless. But here, the writer claws back this idea and encourages us to do things that bring happiness.
Too often these days we suffer from a lack of joy or happiness. A friend of mine talked about a shopping trip with his grandmother where they dodged the same person all over the store for over an hour to avoid them. The reason? She would talk on and on and on how awful things were and would give infinite detail of all the many bad things going on in her life and the world. My friend’s grandmother called her a vampire that sucks the fun right out of life…a “funpire.” Ecclesiastes says that we must find fun in life, and trust that God is wise enough to handle the troubles. We are told that even the wisest in life cannot figure out all that God is doing. Where we cannot understand, faith and trust will build the bridge to joy.
When was the last time you or I intentionally did something fun, calming, or relaxing? We get so narrowly focused on the problems of life before us, that we forget to stop occasionally and enjoy the fact that we have life in a God who brings us hope and joy. Now there are many who live with depression and other medical issues who may struggle in life. No one can simply choose not to have an illness of the mind or body. But we can choose what we feed ourselves. We do have a choice whether to focus on words and thoughts of all that is holy, hopeful, loving, and joyful in God’s embrace, or whether we embrace the suffering of darkness.
Look at it this way, if you have a stomach virus, I doubt you will want to eat two rounds of Taco Bell and half a pizza. In the same way, we have to stay away from the negative things that affect our soul and spirit especially in a world filled with the dark sin of so many negative things. As Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters…fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
The Gospel also echoes this balance and choice between what is painful in this life and what is filled with joy. There is a double promise in the words from Jesus. The first promise is not good—there will be some level of pain and suffering we have to endure in this world. There is no escaping that. But there is a second promise. In Christ’s loving grace we find the hope that brings us joy. Jesus tells the disciples that in his death and resurrection, they (and we too) will find joy, and no one can rob us of that joy.
Luther Bridgers, who was a powerful minister and musician for God, wrote our first hymn for today after losing his family in a house fire. It took so many years for him to find a place of joy and peace again through his faith in God. But eventually he wrote the words that his faith in Jesus “fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.” In the cold, dead silence of suffering, Jesus can revive the warm melodies of love and joy in our hearts to keep us singing as we go along in life as well. Jesus tells the disciples that even as they endure in this life, they will find a closeness to God, and in that relationship, they will find abundant joy.
So today we consider, that in taking care of ourselves, we need to find a little fun in life. It may be a funny movie, a short outing, listening to our favorite music, or even a vacation. Time, money, and physical ability may all affect how much we can do; however, the words still ring clear—we must find the space for fun and create joy in our lives to sustain and help us when the struggle seems hard, and the burdens are heavy.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at how we strengthen our physical and spiritual wellbeing through selfcare in a Biblical way. We’ve learned that our souls must find rest in God when they are weary. We have learned the importance of having a community of folks to sustain us and provide a faith family. We’ve looked at how we are physically and spiritually nourished through the Christ who gives everything we need. And we have looked at gratefulness in all times and seasons of life. To be able to live for God in this world, it is vitally important that we take care of ourselves and find our hearts and minds at rest in God’s love.
Overcoming suffering, pain, and the weariness of this life can only be done through a stronger, deeper relationship with God and a faith that overcomes. As we finish out this series, I want to leave you with the thoughts of Philippians: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” At the end of the day, we must find (and sometimes work very hard to find) the joy in life…maybe even calm down and eat some fruit or something. This joy comes from the knowledge that God loves us, has redeemed us, and will be with us all the days of our lives. I pray you find that happiness and always take care of yourselves as God’s very own beloved.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/521712299817921