In the pursuit of wisdom and righteousness, believers are cautioned against frivolous distractions. The Psalms offer guidance, as in Psalms 119:37, where the writer seeks to turn away from vanity, and in Psalms 11:5 and 101:3, where the focus is on integrity and purity of heart. Meanwhile, Zechariah 8:5 describes a future time of joy and celebration, where children play in the streets, illustrating the beauty of carefree delight in a righteous community. As 1 Corinthians 13:11 notes, such childish pursuits are to be left behind as one matures in faith, seeking instead the deeper things of God.
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The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.