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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
15 • LEISURE
Different
people use their leisure in different ways. In the days of
the Apostles, the Greeks tried to provide for the spirit,
mind and body of man by instituting schools for the study
of philosophy, and gymnasia for the exercise and development
of the body, and once when Paul was at Athens he came across
some Athenians and visitors to the city who "had leisure
for nothing else but either to tell, or to hear some new thing".
This was an opportunity he was quick to take, and he soon
turned their leisure into the pursuit of the God "that
made the world and all therein". It was not Paul's fault
that they did not respond to the wonderful news of God's salvation
through Christ.
The Purpose of Leisure
Leisure then, is the time for recreation so that one feels
whole again in health, energy and thought, and can return
to work refreshed and invigorated.
A miner might renew himself by reading, whereas a student
might refresh himself with outdoor pursuits. A young person
might find a strenuous game of tennis a complete recreation,
whereas an older person might find the pace of a game of bowls
more agreeable. For all of us there is the need to escape
from the daily routine of work and to refresh and renew one's
spirit, mind and body.
In affluent countries today one of the outstanding problems
for ordinary people is what to do with the increased leisure
which they now enjoy: it is a problem which is far from being
solved. But it ought to be no problem for us- should we not
rather welcome the opportunities that such an increase brings?
For all who pursue the new life, leisure is but one aspect
of the life of the spirit which should be dominated by the
will of the Father who desires us to seize every chance to
preach the Gospel and to help in practical ways our fellow
man irrespective of race or creed.
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References
Acts 17v21 RV mg
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Chapter
15 • LEISURE
Bodily Health
Sometimes mind and body become so exhausted that nothing but rest
will suffice, and one must learn completely to relax: there is a
time to laze! Generally, however, leisure is the time to fulfil
our deepest desires, and to enjoy our greatest pleasures.
The energy of the young demands an outlet in games or athletics
of one kind or another: football, hockey, cricket, tennis, badminton
and the like. Their pursuit after one has left school is not easy,
except in the case of games like tennis or badminton, because practice
and team matches so often cut across activities in the life of the
spirit.
The young brother who was an enthusiastic member of his school eights
in rowing would have liked to continue this activity with the Old
Boys' Association, but the days for practice were Saturday and Sunday.
The issue was decided by the will of the Father, as it must always
be decided where there is a clash of interest.
Even in old age the body needs exercise, whether it be at gardening
or in the more gentle activity of walking. But in all these matters
there must be some sense of proportion so that leisure time is shared
with other interests, particularly the divine, for "while bodily
training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as
it holds promise for the present life and so for the life to come".
Hobbies
In Old and New Testament times a multitude of crafts were carried
on and among those mentioned are basketmakers,
carpenters, carvers, embroiderers, makers of jewellery and weavers.
Although we live in a technological age when so many of these and
other hand crafts have been replaced by machine manufacture, many
of them have been preserved as the hobbies of those who like to
use some of their leisure time to create objects of beauty or utility.
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References
1 Tim 4v8 RSV
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