Is God a spoilsport?

Reading time 8 minutes

Updated - February 9, 2025

When you see some Christians walking around with serious mourning, you could easily think that God must be a spoilsport.

Fortunately, there are also others who are actually happy to meet you.

Is God a spoilsport or not?

Everyday life is stressful enough, at least for many of us. That's why you're glad when it's the end of the working day, the children are tucked up in bed and you can take a breather for the first time in the day. It's even better when the weekend is finally just around the corner and you can take a relaxing break with your family or indulge in your hobby for a few hours while the children play with their friends' children. Or when you take a few minutes before going to bed to simply gaze at the starry sky, sniff the scent of pine in the garden or perhaps watch your pets interacting with each other, playing, grooming, teasing, playing chase, etc...

These time-outs help us to gather strength for everyday tasks, avoid burnout and prevent our body from pulling the emergency brake due to exhaustion, becoming ill or even taking us out of circulation for a longer period of time with a heart attack.

Now and again, you might find yourself thinking in those really quiet and blissful moments of recharging your batteries: "Shouldn't I actually be doing this or that instead of looking at holes in the air here?" or "Is it right that I'm enjoying my hobby here?"

What does the Bible say?

Everyone has probably heard the saying "Ora et labora!", or "Pray and work!". A leitmotif of Christian life that developed in the late Middle Ages as a summary of the Benedictine way of life. Monastic life, which was relatively isolated from the outside world, was limited to work and prayer, which is why free time was to be filled with Bible reading to prevent "idleness", as Benedict of Nursia wrote: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul."

Well, if Adam and Eve had listened to God's word and not believed the whispers of Satan, the adversary, we could still be enjoying paradise today and the word "work" would probably have remained unknown to us.

Unfortunately, things turned out differently and we have to earn our living by working. We have internalized this enough in our lives.

Practicing Christians are also aware that we should be in daily contact with God in order to experience his counsel, that he wants to be asked for everything that troubles us, that he wants to give more than what we need.

Pray and work should therefore not have remained a question. But what about time off from work, housework, childcare and much more? Does the Bible also give us an answer to this topic?

Anyone who knows God will correctly assume that God has also taken a stand on this in the Bible, but you only very rarely hear anything about it in church services, Bible studies or at other events.

So let us embark on a search and cite two biblical passages as examples:

1 Corinthians 10, 31 says "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.„

and thus expresses a central Christian attitude, namely to focus our entire life - even in everyday, seemingly banal activities such as eating and drinking - on God and thereby honor him.

All actions should ultimately be part of a life pleasing to God. The call to do things "fresh" can also be understood as a service that honors God and helps other people.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 advice "Whatever comes before you to do, do it fresh„

and is a call for energy, a sense of responsibility and Joie de vivre - in both secular and spiritual matters.

Joie de vivre is a gift from God that arises through faith, gratitude, hope and the focus of life on God. It is not fleeting, but deeply rooted and carries us through difficult times. Joie de vivre means recognizing life in its fullness as a work of God and enjoying it with gratitude, peace and confidence.

The elements of biblical joie de vivre are, for example

Fellowship with God:

True joy comes from a relationship with God. The psalmist says in Psalm 16:11: "You show me the way to life. In your presence is fullness of joy and delight at your right hand forever."
God himself is the source of the joy of life.

Gratitude:

Joie de vivre arises through the recognition and appreciation of God's blessings. Paul calls for 1. Thessalonians 5:16-18 to this: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, be thankful in all things; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Peace and trust:

Joy grows when you trust God and experience his peace. Jesus says in John 15:11
"I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may remain in you and your joy may be complete."

Service and community:

Joy also comes from serving others and living in community. Paul writes in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." Sharing joys and sorrows with others enriches life.

Hope for the eternal:

The joy of the Christian is inextricably linked to the hope of eternal life (Romans 14:17):
"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Independence from circumstances:

Joie de vivre is not tied to external prosperity or success. Paul says from prison in Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!"

It therefore differs from a purely worldly or superficial joy in that it is independent of external circumstances.

So if we are allowed to rejoice, indeed should(!), we should do so by gratefully accepting God's gift of joy and not allowing the adversary to make us feel guilty and tarnish this divinely given joy.

God is interested in us being content, happy, joyful people and thus bringing His goodness and love into the world with a radiant smile. That is why He gives us opportunities to relax, be it by making music, painting, taking photographs, interacting with animals and plants. If we are balanced, then we can do justice to the tasks set for us because we are healthy and have the strength to do so without overextending ourselves and unbalancing our health.

So God is by no means a spoilsport; He is actually asking us very clearly to have joy in life! The fact that we limit ourselves in our choice of opportunities that bring us joy to those that are not compatible with His values should not need to be particularly emphasized ...

An example from my life

During my time at grammar school, I often had a lot of frustration, which I got off my chest by playing the piano. I was actually supposed to (!) practise given pieces. And it was precisely this practicing, whether for this or for school, that was the moment that ruined everything for me.
"The boy should have it better than us parents" may be a noble motive, but it not only misses the intended goal, especially if it does not correspond - at least approximately - to the child's interests, but is also likely to make the child's future very difficult.

The neighbors in the apartment building were always very enthusiastic and often asked my mother what piece it was, but they were all improvisations that simply reflected my inner state. Sometimes they were in a minor key, sometimes in a major key and sometimes both keys were mixed together.

Making music - freely - was an outlet for me to cope better with my stress levels. After the improvisations contributed to the joy of the neighbors, I had even done a good deed in that respect. At the time, however, that was neither in my mind, nor was the thought of it even remotely present. The only thing that was certain was that this music-making was not in my mother's interest, even though she didn't know that I wasn't playing the pieces I was practising.

The question may arise as to whether this game was in God's interest. When I look at the Bible quotes above, I assume that God is nodding at me because I did something good for my health during this time, got back into balance and the game also brought joy to other people.

Excursus - An immoral offer

Imagine you are with a group of friends and you have planned a weekend in a vacation home. The prospect of lots of fun, good food and convivial evenings makes everyone beam with anticipation. There are also people in the group who are very devout and uphold their religious principles. But as the evening progresses, a discussion begins to develop.

The plan

Friday evening. The group has agreed to have a small party after dinner. Some of the friends are in favor of partying late into the night, with music, dancing and a bit of alcohol. Others, like you, are not particularly religious, but you have a good feeling that excessive drinking and a long, late night are not necessarily the best decisions, especially if you want to do a lot the next day.

A believing friend, let's call him David, joins in the conversation. He says: "I have the feeling that God is showing us a clear way to live. Too much partying, too much drinking, that doesn't lead to anything good. God wants us to be mindful of ourselves and our bodies."
David is not someone who is fundamentally against fun, but for him there is a line that he does not want to cross if it could violate God's values, which he also considers worth protecting as part of his religious convictions.

The reaction

Some of his other friends react with understanding, but others are rather dismissive. One friend, who is more relaxed about religious topics, says: "Come on, David, it's not that bad. It's just a bit of fun. We can celebrate without ruining ourselves. And besides, God won't be angry with us if we go a bit overboard, will he?" Another, who describes himself as more of an agnostic, interjects: "Who knows what God thinks? I don't think he cares about something like our party."

At this point, David feels uncomfortable and says: "I think it's important that we respect ourselves and live in moderation. And for me, that means sticking to my principles when it comes to fun and leisure." He quietly joins the circle, but lets it be known that he organizes his fun in a different way.

The decision

After some back and forth, the group decides to curb the celebration, meaning no excessive partying late into the night and no excessive alcohol consumption. Some are disappointed, but the others ultimately respect David's wishes and convictions. They agree to spend the night in a smaller group, without much noise and excessive consumption.

But the question remains: Is God a spoilsport in this case?

For David, God is not a restriction, but rather a guide. He doesn't see God as a spoilsport, but as someone who shows the way to a more fulfilling, respectful life. For him, this means that you should be moderate in everything you do. He understands that fun and enjoyment are important, but he believes that these things do not have to be at odds with a good and moral life.

For the other friends, things look a little different. They feel restricted in their immediate desire for fun by David's convictions and wonder whether God is really a spoilsport in this case. They are of the opinion that life should also be enjoyed and question whether it is really so bad if you overstep your own boundaries from time to time.

The follow-up discussion

The next morning, the mood is a little more relaxed. The party was quieter than originally planned, but it was a good conversation and everyone was able to respect each other.

Some friends note that it was good for them to go to bed early and be rested the next day. They were grateful to David for making them think, even if they disagreed at first.

David feels satisfied because he has not only maintained his principles, but has also contributed a little to a more respectful coexistence through his influence in the group. For him, God is not the spoilsport in this case, but the one who helps him to make decisions that lead to a better life in the long term.

Conclusion

The example shows how the question "Is God a spoilsport?" can be interpreted in different ways in an everyday context. For one person, it may seem like God is spoiling the fun by setting moral boundaries. For others, however, God is a guide who helps you to make decisions that are good for you and your fellow human beings in the long term.

In this case, it's not about forbidding fun, but about moderation and reflecting on how you shape your life. It's about being aware that the freedom to have fun can also go hand in hand with responsibility and mindfulness.