What Does The Bible Say About Enjoying Life?

Life is meant to be enjoyed. The Bible tells us that God wants us to experience joy, pleasure, and happiness in this world that He created. But what specifically does the Bible say about how we can and should enjoy life?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible encourages us to enjoy life by thanking God for everything, working enthusiastically, eating and drinking happily, enjoying marital intimacy, and more.

It speaks against gluttoney, drunkenness, sexual immorality and loving pleasure more than God.

Thanking God Brings Joy

Praise God for Blessings

Giving thanks to God for the blessings in our lives is a powerful way to experience joy. When we take time to reflect on God’s goodness, it cultivates an attitude of gratitude in our hearts. Pausing to thank God for the little things like a warm cup of coffee, laughter with friends or a beautiful sunrise opens our eyes to just how much we have to be grateful for.

As Psalm 92:1 encourages us, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.”

Praising God realigns our perspective from focusing on problems to seeing all we have to be thankful for. Gratitude manifests joy. Even in difficult seasons, we can thank God for being with us and providing what we need.

Expressing praise through worship songs, dancing, creating art or journaling can lift our spirits. When we make thanking God a daily habit, joy arises within us.

Pray with Gratitude

Bringing a heart of gratitude to prayer cultivates joy in remarkable ways. Beginning prayer by thanking God for who He is and all He has done fills us with awe. We can thank Him for loving us unconditionally, forgiving us, guiding us and promising us eternal life with Him.

Gratitude helps us take our eyes off ourselves and onto God’s wondrous blessings.

We can also thank God specifically for people in our lives, provisions He faithfully gives and answered prayers. Even amidst pain, we can thank Him for being with us and working all things for our good in His timing. Praying with gratitude stirs up joy in the depths of our soul.

It reminds us we serve an amazing God who deserves all praise and honor.

Worship Wholeheartedly

Entering God’s presence through worship is a direct pathway to joy. Lifting our voice in song, raising hands, dancing, playing instruments and other expressions of praise fill us with supernatural joy.

As we worship, burdens lift, breakthrough comes and we experience the joy of the Lord which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Wholehearted worship realigns our focus from earthly troubles onto Almighty God. We are reminded of His greatness and power. We release control to the One who can do the impossible. Joy bubbles up within us as we behold the beauty of the Lord.

Worship ushers us into God’s presence where there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). As we give God praise, joy permeates every part of our being.

Working Hard Brings Satisfaction

Working is God’s Design

The Bible teaches that work originated with God before the Fall. God worked for six days in creation and rested on the seventh day, thereby establishing the pattern of labor and rest (Genesis 2:2-3). Work was part of God’s perfect design for human beings from the very beginning.

After creating Adam, God placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 2:15). This shows that work was meant to be fulfilling and enjoyable for humankind. Though work became difficult after sin entered the world, it was still meant to provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Laboring with Enthusiasm

The Bible encourages us to work willingly and enthusiastically, not grudgingly. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). When we work to honor God and see our labor as serving Him, it takes on eternal significance.

The pleasure that accompanies a job well done is a gift from God. King Solomon wrote, “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

Enjoying the fruits of our labor is pleasing to God.

Resting from Work

The Bible also teaches the importance of rest. Just as God rested after His work, He called His people to set aside the Sabbath day for renewal. Rest serves an important purpose—it allows us to refocus on the higher things of God and creation, reflect on His goodness, and renew our spirits.

Jesus highlighted this, saying, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Wise interludes of rest make our work more fruitful. Rest also looks forward to our eternal rest from labor when Christ returns. This hope can energize and motivate our work today.

Eating and Drinking Brings Gladness

Enjoying God’s Provision

The Bible encourages us to enjoy the good gifts that God has provided, including delicious foods and drinks. Passages like Ecclesiastes 9:7 tell us to “eat your food with gladness” as we recognize God’s generous provision.

When we partake with gratefulness, eating and drinking can be a way to honor God and celebrate life’s simple pleasures.

Jesus’ first recorded miracle was turning water into fine wine at a wedding celebration (John 2:1-11). This shows that God approves of festive feasting and wants us to enjoy special occasions. Food and drink often accompany celebrations in the Bible, evidencing that God made eating and drinking not just for sustenance but for fellowship, joy, and making merry.

So while gluttony is warned against, the Bible promotes celebrating God’s abundant provision for our pleasure and nourishment. We can eat favorite foods and share fine wine or sweet tea while praising the Creator who made taste buds and beautiful cuisine!

Avoiding Gluttony and Drunkenness

However, the Bible does caution against overindulgence and addiction when it comes to food and drink. Gluttony and drunkenness are strongly warned against, as they can become idols that replace our devotion to God (Deuteronomy 21:20-21; Proverbs 23:20-21; Matthew 11:19).

When we consume just to satisfy endless cravings rather than enjoying God’s gifts with gratitude and self-control, that leads to spiritual poverty and sin. We must have balance and temperance, not becoming captive to any earthly appetite.

Additionally, excessive drinking that clouds judgement and inhibits self-control is foolishness. So while we can enjoy God’s provision in moderation, drunkenness and addiction are dangerous traps to avoid on our journey toward spiritual maturity.

Sharing Meals Together

Meals in the Bible were often community events—times to gather together and fellowship while enjoying food and drink. Some examples include the Passover meal, feeding the 5000, post-resurrection fish-bakes on the beach, and the potluck-style gatherings of the early church.

There is a close connection between eating together and unity, which is still true today. Breaking bread with other believers allows joyful communion in the Spirit. Conversation flows easily over delicious shared food.

Laughter, story-telling, thanksgiving, and prayer mark these meal-times, much like in Jesus’ day.

So enjoying meals together not only celebrates God’s provision but also draws Christians closer to one another. It forges spiritual connections while satisfying natural appetites. With gratefulness, moderation and fellowship, food and drink become sanctified conduits of God’s grace.

Marital Intimacy Brings Delight

Sex Within Marriage

The Bible teaches that sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is a gift from God that brings delight and strengthens the marital bond (Prov. 5:18-19; Song of Sol. 7:6-13). Sex within marriage is holy and honorable (Heb.

13:4), but should be kept private between husband and wife and not shamefully exposed (1 Cor. 7:4-5). Though some try to forbid it, “the marriage bed is undefiled” and sex is not sinful when enjoyed within the confines of marriage (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:3-5).

The Marriage Bed Undefiled

God designed the marriage relationship for a husband and wife’s mutual pleasure and delight (Prov. 5:18-19). The Song of Solomon poetically describes the joys of marital intimacy, so sex within marriage is both biblical and beautiful.

Though some falsely equate all sex with sin, Scripture celebrates sex as God’s good gift when practiced faithfully between husband and wife.

Marriage offers a safe place to enjoy this gift to the fullest (Prov. 5:15-19; Song of Sol. 4:1-15). The world promotes casual sex without commitment, but God’s design protects couples from pain and regret by containing passion within committed marriage relationships.

Guarding Against Adultery

Though marital intimacy is good, God forbids engaging in sexual immorality or adultery, which violates the marriage covenant (Exod. 20:14; Prov. 6:20-35; Heb. 13:4). Sex is designed to be shared exclusively between husband and wife.

We must guard our minds and bodies to keep our marriages pure (Job 31:1; Matt. 5:27-30). This means fleeing from sexual temptation (1 Cor. 6:18), being faithful in mind and body, and reserving our sexual desires exclusively for our spouse (Prov. 5:15-19).

Honoring our marriage covenant brings safety, joy, and confidence (Prov. 5:18-19).

Loving God Above Pleasure

Not Loving the World

The Bible teaches us that we should not love the world or the things of the world (1 John 2:15). The “world” refers to the sinful desires, priorities, and mindsets that are opposed to God. When we love the world, we are seeking fulfillment outside of God, through money, possessions, fame, status, and pleasure.

However, these things will never truly satisfy us. Only God can fill the void in our hearts.

Rather than chasing after fleeting pleasures, we are called to seek after the eternal joy found in relationship with God. We should fix our eyes on the heavenly treasures awaiting us, not the temporary enticements of this world (Colossians 3:2).

Our contentment and purpose is found in living for God’s glory, not our own.

Drawing Near to God

The more we draw near to God, the less allure the world will have over us. Pursuing intimacy with Christ through prayer, Bible study, worship, and obedience transforms our desires and outlook. We begin to view life from an eternal perspective and recognize that only Christ offers complete fulfillment.

As James 4:8 (ESV) instructs us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” When we intentionally cultivate our relationship with the Lord, He fills us with His love and peace. The fleeting pleasures of this world dim in comparison to the joy of His presence.

We experience the Psalm 16:11 (ESV) promise, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Finding Joy in the Lord

Rather than seeking happiness in money, partying, relationships, entertainment, or status, Scripture calls us to find our joy in the Lord. He delights in us and offers satisfying relationship. As Psalm 37:4 (ESV) says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When God has our heart, He fills our spirit with indestructible joy.

Even amidst suffering and trials, we can have triumphant joy in Christ. He gives us an unshakable hope and peace that transcends circumstances (John 16:33). As we walk closely with Jesus, obeying His Word, we discover the abundant life He promises (John 10:10).

The fleeting pleasures of this world are no comparison to the eternal treasures we have in Him.

Conclusion

The Bible has a very positive view of enjoying the good things in life like food, intimacy, rest, and work. But all of these are meant to be enjoyed in their proper contexts and always with gratitude to God, the giver of every good gift.

Most importantly, our greatest joy should come from loving and knowing God, who provides endless delights to those who seek Him.