Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Exclude from the Kingdom of God
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In the Christian tradition, the pursuit of amusements and worldly pleasures is often viewed with caution, as it can lead individuals away from the path of righteousness and ultimately exclude them from the Kingdom of God. The Bible provides numerous warnings against indulging in such activities, emphasizing the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God and aligned with His commandments.

Biblical Warnings Against Worldly Pleasures

The Scriptures frequently caution believers about the dangers of succumbing to worldly desires. In 1 John 2:15-17 , the apostle John writes, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever."

This passage highlights the transient nature of worldly pleasures and contrasts them with the eternal rewards of following God's will. The "desires of the flesh" and "desires of the eyes" refer to the temptations that can lead individuals away from spiritual growth and into sin.

The Works of the Flesh

The apostle Paul provides a clear list of behaviors that are considered "works of the flesh" and warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In Galatians 5:19-21 , he states, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

This passage underscores the seriousness with which the Bible views indulgence in worldly pleasures. The inclusion of behaviors such as "drunkenness" and "carousing" suggests that excessive indulgence in entertainment and pleasure-seeking activities can lead to spiritual downfall.

The Call to Holiness

Believers are called to live lives of holiness and self-control, avoiding the temptations of the world. In Romans 12:2 , Paul exhorts, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

This transformation involves a conscious effort to resist the allure of worldly pleasures and to focus on spiritual growth and obedience to God's will. The renewal of the mind is a key aspect of this process, enabling believers to discern and pursue what is truly valuable in the eyes of God.

The Example of Christ

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of a life free from the entanglements of worldly pleasures. His teachings and actions consistently pointed towards a life of service, sacrifice, and devotion to God. In Matthew 6:19-21 , Jesus instructs, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This teaching emphasizes the importance of prioritizing spiritual wealth over earthly pleasures, as the latter are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers away from worldly pleasures and towards a life that is pleasing to God. In Galatians 5:16 , Paul advises, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

By walking in the Spirit, believers are empowered to resist the temptations of the flesh and to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Conclusion

The Bible's teachings on amusements and worldly pleasures serve as a reminder of the importance of living a life that is focused on spiritual growth and obedience to God. By heeding these warnings and following the example of Christ, believers can avoid the pitfalls of worldly desires and remain on the path to the Kingdom of God.
Nave's Topical Index
Galatians 5:21
Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful
... When the intoxications of worldly business and pleasures ... giddy round of pleasures
and amusements, and presently ... owning the vanity of those pleasures and cares ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the care of the soul.htm

Of the Incapacity of an Unregenerate Person for Relishing the ...
... it in the enjoyment of all its worldly prosperity; nay ... perceive them vanished, like
the visionary amusements of a ... Rivers of pleasures are flowing in upon them ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse v of the incapacity.htm

The True Nonconformist.
... I bid you use those amusements which are innocent in ... every detail of your lives,
into your pleasures, your conversation ... You will not then be a worldly church. ...
/.../vincent/amusement a force in christian training/the true nonconformist.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... the search for such delicacies than pleasures the consumption ... who, he says, laid
aside all worldly business and ... good be evil spoken of: for the Kingdom of God ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... himself in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God ... and the daily temptations
to vain amusements by his ... the decline of life in his worldly circumstances, and ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

part i
... by the vanities of this world and attachments to its objects and pleasures? ... A priest
is an angel and not a man; everything worldly ought to ... "The kingdom of God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... That it was slighted, or turn'd out of door By any kingdom, were they ... When little
tripping maidens follow God, And leave old doting sinners to His rod; 'Tis ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... himself in such carnal delights and pleasures as he ... the Parliament in redressing
the grievances of the kingdom. ... indulged, so far as his worldly calling allowed ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Resources
What does it mean that God is a God of miracles? | GotQuestions.org

Does God have a sense of humor? | GotQuestions.org

Amuse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Amuse

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures are Transitory

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: A Characteristic of the Wicked

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: A Proof of Spiritual Death

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Abstinence From, Seems Strange to the Wicked

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: An Abuse of Riches

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Belong to the Works of the Flesh

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Choke the Word of God in the Heart

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Denounced by God

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Disregard of the Judgments and Works of God

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Exclude from the Kingdom of God

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Formed a Part of Idolatrous Worship

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Indulgence in Is: A Proof of Folly

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Lead to Greater Evil

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Lead to Rejection of God

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Poverty

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Punishment of

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Renunciation of, Exemplified by Moses

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Shunned by the Primitive Saints

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Terminate in Sorrow

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: The Wicked Seek for Happiness In

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Vain

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Wisdom of Abstaining From

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures are all Vanity

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures are Likely to Lead to Greater Evil

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures are Transitory

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Abstinence From, Seems Strange to the Wicked

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Belong to the Works of the Flesh

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Choke the Word of God in the Heart

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Denounced by God

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Formed a Part of Idolatrous Worship

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Indulgence in a Characteristic of the Wicked

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Indulgence in a Proof of Folly

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Indulgence in a Proof of Spiritual Death

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Indulgence in an Abuse of Riches

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Lead to Disregard of the Judgments and Works of God

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Lead to Poverty

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Lead to Rejection of God

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Punishment of

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Renunciation of Moses

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Shunned by the Saints

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Terminate in Sorrow

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: The Wicked Seek for Happiness In

Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Wisdom of Abstaining From

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Entertain (8 Occurrences)

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Plaything (1 Occurrence)

Amulets (1 Occurrence)

Amzi (2 Occurrences)

Sport (99 Occurrences)

Judith (1 Occurrence)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Disregard of the Judgments and Works of God
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