The concept of entertainment is not directly addressed as often in the Bible, yet principles regarding what we consume and how we entertain ourselves are scattered throughout Scripture. While the Bible encourages joy and relaxation, it also calls for discernment in distinguishing between wholesome entertainment and that which contradicts Christian values. Herein are Bible verses reminding us to be both wise and joyful in our choices involving amusement and leisure.
Bible Verses about Entertainment
1. Philippians 4:8 – Think on These Things
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8
Cross-References
Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “But test them all; hold on to what is good,”
2. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – Do It All for the Glory of God
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Cross-References
Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
1 Peter 4:11 – “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.”
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
3. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard Your Heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
Cross-References
Matthew 12:34 – “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Luke 6:45 – “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.”
Matthew 15:19 – “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
4. Romans 12:2 – Be Transformed
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:23 – “To be made new in the attitude of your minds.”
Psalms 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed.”
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Reject Every Kind of Evil
“Reject every kind of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Cross-References
1 Timothy 6:11 – “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness.”
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Titus 2:12 – “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.”
6. Ecclesiastes 2:24 – Enjoy the Work
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24
Cross-References
Psalms 128:2 – “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 – “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”
Proverbs 14:23 – “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
7. Matthew 6:33 – Seek First the Kingdom
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
Cross-References
Luke 12:31 – “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
Colossians 3:1 – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.”
Psalms 37:4 – “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
8. Ephesians 5:15-16 – Live Wisely
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16
Cross-References
Colossians 4:5 – “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.”
Proverbs 14:8 – “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.”
9. 1 Timothy 4:12 – Set an Example
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12
Cross-References
Titus 2:7 – “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”
1 Peter 5:3 – “Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
10. Psalm 16:11 – Fullness of Joy
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” – Psalm 16:11
Cross-References
Nehemiah 8:10 – “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
John 15:11 – “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Psalm 21:6 – “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”
11. Romans 14:17 – Righteousness, Peace, and Joy
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17
Cross-References
Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.”
12. Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4
Cross-References
1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice always.”
Psalm 32:11 – “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
Isaiah 61:10 – “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.”
13. Proverbs 17:22 – A Cheerful Heart
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
Cross-References
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
14. Isaiah 55:12 – Go Out in Joy
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12
Cross-References
Psalm 98:8 – “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.”
Psalm 96:12 – “Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
Job 38:7 – “While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
15. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – A Time for Everything
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 8:6 – “For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.”
Proverbs 15:23 – “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!”
Galatians 4:4 – “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.”
16. 1 Corinthians 13:6 – Rejoice in the Truth
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” – 1 Corinthians 13:6
Cross-References
Zechariah 8:16 – “Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.”
Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.”
John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
17. 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast All Your Anxiety
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Cross-References
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition.”
Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
Psalms 55:22 – “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.”
18. Colossians 3:16 – Let the Message Dwell
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:19 – “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”
Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
19. James 1:2-3 – Consider It Pure Joy
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
Cross-References
Romans 5:3-4 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”
1 Peter 1:6 – “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 – “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships.”
20. Proverbs 15:13 – A Joyful Heart
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:13
Cross-References
Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Psalms 34:5 – “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Proverbs 18:14 – “The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
21. Psalm 100:2 – Serve with Gladness
“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” – Psalm 100:2
Cross-References
Psalm 95:1-2 – “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.”
Philippians 2:14 – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”
Psalm 40:16 – “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.”
22. Galatians 5:25 – Keep in Step with the Spirit
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25
Cross-References
Romans 8:4 – “In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:9 – “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit.”
1 John 2:6 – “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
23. Ecclesiastes 2:26 – Pleasing to God
“To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:26
Cross-References
Proverbs 2:6 – “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Psalms 119:1 – “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.”
24. 1 John 2:15 – Love Not the World
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
Cross-References
James 4:4 – “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?”
1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
25. Hebrews 12:1 – Run with Perseverance
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1
Cross-References
1 Corinthians 9:24 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?”
Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
26. Matthew 11:28-30 – Rest for the Weary
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Cross-References
Hebrews 4:3 – “Now we who have believed enter that rest.”
Psalm 55:6 – “I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.'”
Hebrews 4:10 – “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works.”
27. Luke 12:20-21 – The Rich Fool
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:20-21
Cross-References
Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant.”
James 4:14 – “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?”
28. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – Lovers of Pleasure
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Cross-References
Romans 1:28-32 – “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God.”
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
Philippians 3:19 – “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach.”
29. Proverbs 13:20 – The Company You Keep
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20
Cross-References
1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 – “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person.”
30. Ephesians 4:29 – Speaking with Grace
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29
Cross-References
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace.”
Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
James 3:10 – “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
31. Psalm 91:1-2 – Dwelling in Safety
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” – Psalm 91:1-2
Cross-References
Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
32. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encourage One Another
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Cross-References
Hebrews 3:13 – “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today.'”
Romans 15:2 – “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
Ephesians 4:12 – “To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Final Thought
In a world bursting with entertainment options, believers are called to exercise discretion and alignment with God’s principles. While joyful relaxation has a place, the scriptures emphasize transformative thought, community encouragement, purity, and focus on God’s kingdom. The Bible reminds us that entertainment, while a source of joy, should not replace our spiritual pursuits or derail our faith journeys. Instead, it should be a means to recharge and edify, setting our hearts and minds on what is truly lasting. Through mindful engagement and a heart devoted to God’s precepts, our pursuit of entertainment can uphold rather than undermine our spiritual walk.