Strong Challenge: Play

It's crazy to think that God's design for us was not to be productive.  Completely contrary to what the world values, but God created man to enjoy what he's put before us. "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it..." (Gen. 1:29)  But I suppose this makes sense.  I can't believe that I would be created with the ability to take such enjoyment in the world without a reason.  On the contrary, God gave us the ability to feel pleasure in these because that's how he wanted to be able to bless us.  God created me to be in community with him--to seek him so that he can give me everything that's good.  This is the avenue through which God has chosen to bless me for seeking him.  Working for God, or working in  general has a promise of future relaxation and blessing.


Consequentially, what if it's through play that we're blessed and restored?  I love working for my Lord, and I definitely feel God's blessings through it, but as it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace."

Even Jesus, who was always talking about the work of the father took time to rest.  God's plan isn't for us to be constantly productive, he doesn't even need us for his work.  Our heavenly father allows us to work for him in order to bless us.  But if we get too caught up in the work, we miss the point:  full life comes from closeness with the God of goodness.  God is relational, he wants to work through us and with us, but he also wants us to rest with him.