Is Your Recreation Beneficial? “Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.”—EPH. 5:10. – ?⚾️??‍♂️⛹?‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️⚽️?

[Bible Speaks]

Mark 8:36

36 Really, what good will it do a man to gain the whole world and to lose his life?”

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Is Your Recreation Beneficial?

“Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.”—EPH. 5:10.

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THROUGHOUT the Bible, we find statements indicating that Jehovah wants us not only to live but also to enjoy life. 

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Those who have a balanced view of recreation allow for diversity yet also recognize the need for limitations. Why so? To answer, let us compare entertainment with food. Popular dishes differ from one part of the world to another. In fact, what people in one area relish may be unappetizing to people elsewhere. In a similar manner, what Christians in one part of the world view as pleasant recreation may not be appealing to Christians elsewhere. Even among Christians living in the same area, what one may view as relaxing (perhaps curling up with a good book), another may view as boring; what one may view as refreshing (perhaps sightseeing on a bicycle), another may view as exhausting. Still, we accept that in such matters as food and recreation, there is room for diversity and personal preference.—Rom. 14:2-4.

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A question to ask yourself is, Who?—that is, ‘Who are the ones I want to share my leisure activities with?’ It is important to consider this aspect of recreation. Why? Because the quality of our recreation is greatly influenced by the quality of our companions. Just as eating a meal is usually more pleasurable when you do so in the company of good friends, engaging in recreation is often more enjoyable when you do so with good companions. Thus, it is understandable that many among us, especially young ones, enjoy recreation that is shared with others. However, to make sure that an activity will be beneficial, it is wise to determine in advance what sort of individuals to choose as companions and what sort to avoid.—2 Chron. 19:2; read Proverbs 13:20; Jas. 4:4.

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https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011763?q=mark+8%3A36&p=par