Entertainment, Peace, and Discernment
Investing Time in What Bears Lasting Fruit
Have you ever reached the end of a day and wondered where the time went?
Perhaps you sat down intending to watch one episode of a show, check a few updates online, or scroll through social media for a few minutes. The next thing you know, two or three hours have disappeared, and you couldn't easily tell someone what you gained from them.
Most of us have experienced that at one time or another.
I certainly have.
There have been evenings when I looked at the clock and thought, "Well, I was busy... but I'm not entirely sure I accomplished anything."
Jesus often taught about stewardship. Whether He was speaking about money, talents, fields, or servants entrusted with responsibility, He repeatedly reminded His followers that what God gives us is meant to be used wisely.
One of the greatest gifts God gives each of us is time.
Unlike money, we cannot earn more of it.
Once a day is spent, it is gone.
That doesn't mean every moment must be productive. God created us for rest, enjoyment, laughter, and fellowship, too. Jesus attended celebrations, shared meals, and spent time with friends. Rest and recreation are part of a healthy life.
The question is not whether we enjoy our free time.
The question is what our free time produces.
Jesus said:
"You will recognize them by their fruits." — Matthew 7:16
That simple principle can help us evaluate many of the choices we make.
When we finish an activity, what fruit remains?
Were we encouraged?
Did we learn something useful?
Did it strengthen a relationship?
Did it help us grow in wisdom, skill, gratitude, or understanding?
Or did it simply consume hours that could have been spent in more meaningful ways?
As we grow in Christian maturity, we begin to look at our time less as something to spend and more as something to invest.
Some investments bear wonderful fruit.
A few hours spent in a garden may produce vegetables for the table, flowers for the home, exercise for the body, and quiet moments to reflect on God's creation. Baking a batch of cookies or a loaf of bread can bless a family, encourage a neighbor, or become a cherished memory shared with children and grandchildren. Painting, woodworking, sewing, photography, music, and other creative pursuits develop skills while producing something beautiful to enjoy or share with others.
Even activities as simple as reading a worthwhile book, visiting a museum, exploring a nature trail, or learning a new skill often leave us richer than we were before. We gain knowledge, perspective, appreciation, and memories that stay with us.
Not every investment produces fruit immediately, but healthy investments usually leave something worthwhile behind.
The same cannot always be said of entertainment.
Some forms of entertainment are harmless and enjoyable. Others leave us feeling inspired, refreshed, or informed. But occasionally we discover that a pastime is taking far more than it is giving.
A television series may begin with an interesting story and compelling characters, only to drift into content that becomes increasingly violent, bizarre, or immoral. A social media feed may start as a way to stay connected but slowly become a source of frustration, anxiety, and endless arguments. A favorite hobby may quietly grow into an obsession that consumes far more time than it deserves.
Christian maturity gives us permission to ask a simple question:
"What do I have to show for the time I invested?"
That question is not meant to create guilt, but to create wisdom.
Sometimes the answer is a stronger relationship.
Sometimes it is a new skill.
Sometimes it is a beautiful painting hanging on the wall, vegetables growing in the garden, a notebook full of memories, or cookies delivered to a neighbor who needed encouragement.
And sometimes the answer is that we spent three hours watching videos about people organizing their garages while our own garage still looks exactly the same.
I suspect many of us can relate to that one.
The good news is that God is not asking us to eliminate enjoyment from our lives. He is inviting us to choose things that bring genuine refreshment and lasting fruit.
As we grow in the footsteps of Jesus, we learn that discernment is not merely about avoiding what is harmful.
It is about investing our time in things that help us love God, serve others, and become the people He created us to be.
The Father has filled the world with opportunities to learn, create, build, grow, explore, share, and enjoy.
Those investments rarely disappoint.
Footsteps in Practice
The Investment Test
This week, think about one activity that regularly occupies your free time.
When you finish, ask yourself:
What did this produce?
Did it leave you with greater peace, knowledge, skill, gratitude, stronger relationships, or something meaningful to share?
Or did it simply consume time?
There is no need for guilt—only awareness.
Sometimes a small adjustment in how we spend our time can produce surprising fruit.
A Thought to Carry This Week
Time is one of God's most precious gifts.
Spend some of it resting, some of it enjoying life, and some of it investing in things that bear good fruit.
