Paul A Compton

Having Fun Under the Sun Paul A Compton

Is Christianity for or against pleasure? Far from being against pleasure per se, the Bible holds out true pleasure as one of the great gifts of God. Is God a cosmic killjoy? Is He a Heavenly Scrooge? Should a Christian feel bad when he feels good because he's afraid if he felt better he might feel worse? God is not a celestial Scrooge who provides no pleasure for His children. Rather, Scripture depicts Him as the kind of Father who is ready to say, "Let us have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:23-24). The true key to pleasure it is to recognize that true satisfaction is found only as one receives everything, the physical world included, as a gift from God. The enjoyments of life are gifts of God to be received, not evils to be avoided. But one cannot be happy by clinging to the gift and neglecting the Giver. Things are not an end in themselves but a means to the end of the satisfaction which is found in God alone. Sit back and enjoy this practical journey through Ecclesiastes, one of the most fascinating but misunderstood books of the Bible.