Entertainment is a pervasive aspect of modern life, often consumed in the form of movies, television shows, music, games, and various outdoor activities. The Bible, while written thousands of years ago, still offers relevant guidance on this topic. Many believers look to the Bible for wisdom about how to approach entertainment—how to discern its value, the role it should play in the life of a Christian, and its effect on one’s spiritual growth and personal relationship with God.
What the Bible Shares About the Value of Entertainment
The Bible acknowledges that enjoyment is a gift from God and that He encourages His people to take pleasure in the life that has been provided to them. However, the Bible urges caution when considering the intrinsic value of worldly entertainment versus the eternal value of spiritual growth. The Bible balances the notion of celebrating life’s joys while also focusing on matters of spiritual significance. It provides wisdom on using discernment when engaging with the secular world, emphasizing the importance of keeping God as the focal point of our lives rather than getting consumed by temporal pleasures. This outlook doesn’t imply that it is wrong to engage in or enjoy entertainment, but it encourages believers to be mindful of what they permit into their lives.
Why Responsibly Using Leisure Time is Critical in the Bible
Leisure should not be synonymous with idleness, warns the Bible. While relaxation is important, wasting time frivolously is not encouraged. The Bible shares teachings about the importance of using one’s time wisely because it is a limited resource. Leisure is a viable and necessary part of life, yet it becomes problematic when it detracts from our primary purpose or when amusement becomes the main focus of our existence. Critical is the need to keep leisure and entertainment in their proper place. Balance is a common theme in the Bible’s teachings on this subject.
How the Bible Views Entertainment’s Effect on Personal Growth
The Bible cautions that the types of entertainment we engage with can influence our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Thus, the Bible advises believers to carefully consider the content of entertainment they consume and its potential impact on their spiritual and personal growth. The plot lines, language utilized, and overall messages in various forms of entertainment should align with the values and beliefs one holds. For instance, content that promotes hatred, violence, immorality, or deceit is cautioned against. Instead, the Bible encourages engagement with content that fosters love, peace, righteousness, and truth. This selective approach to entertainment, according to the Bible, aids personal growth and supports the cultivation of positive traits in people’s lives.
Where the Bible Weighs In on the Role of Entertainment in Christian Life
The Bible stresses that the Christian journey is about becoming more like God, fostering spiritual growth and cultivating personal virtues. On this path, the role of entertainment is not completely dismissed. Instead, the Bible advocates for balance, recognizing the importance of rest, pleasure and enjoyment in one’s life as a way to rejuvenate and energize oneself. It urges believers to enjoy the fruits of their labor but not to lose sight of their spiritual commitments and obligations. Care must be taken to ensure that entertainment does not become a distraction or an idol, detracting us from God or leading one into temptation.
When Entertainment Becomes Diversion in the Bible’s Perspective
The Bible cautions against excessive indulgence in entertainment. When it becomes a diversion from our responsibilities, priorities, or spiritual practices, it can be detrimental. The Bible encourages moderation and discernment. Just as with other aspects of life, it provides the wisdom to recognize when entertainment is being used as an escape or a means to avoid addressing personal or spiritual issues. It encourages responsibility in consumption, attesting to the importance of maintaining balance and using discernment. All these teachings demonstrate the Bible’s guidance on entertainment, helping to navigate believers toward balanced consumption and understanding.
Below is our full list of bible verses on entertainment (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Entertainment
Philippians 4:8
“8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Related Themes: Lust Gossip Attitude Complaining
Psalm 101:2-3
“2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
Colossians 3:17
“17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Related Themes: Business Attitude Gratitude Thankfulness Dedication
Hebrews 13:5
“5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Related Themes: Money Loneliness Finances Complaining Greed
Ephesians 5:11
“11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Related Themes: Gossip Speaking Up Disrespect Adultery Enabling
Matthew 6:24
“24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Titus 2:12
“12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
Related Themes: Lust Self-Control Reverence Self Discipline Purity
1 Timothy 6:17-19
“17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Related Themes: Money Pride Money Homelessness Hope
Luke 12:33-34
“33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Homelessness Money Heart
Psalm 150:1-6
“1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Related Themes: Music Earth Creativity Singing
Hebrews 10:26
“26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”
Related Themes: Hell Sin Compromise Apostasy Sacrifice
Matthew 6:19-21
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Related Themes: Money Homelessness Finances Materialism Coveting
Romans 16:19
“19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”
Related Themes: Fidelity
James 4:4
“4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Related Themes: Lust Dating Social Justice Adultery Morality
Luke 8:14
“14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
Proverbs 4:23
“23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Related Themes: Dating Lust Creativity Heart Life
Matthew 24:4
“4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
Related Themes: Manipulation Discernment Peer Pressure
Matthew 18:7
“7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
1 Timothy 4:7
“7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
Related Themes: Health Superstition Discipline Self-Control Traditions
2 Peter 2:12-18
“12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”
Luke 6:43-45
“43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Proverbs 21:17
“17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”
Related Themes: Lust Indulgence Finances Pleasure Money
Proverbs 26:26
“26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.”
Psalm 126:2-3
“2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Daniel 8:25
“25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”
James 3:7-11
“7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
1 Corinthians 6:12
“12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Related Themes: Addiction Technology Freedom Gluttony Sports
