PLAYING ENOUGH?

Last summer in Savannah, GA I saw this tire swing with moss on it. The adage 'a rolling stone gathers no moss' reveals that only something neglected grows moss on it. Somebody quit playing on that swing.

I once heard John Arnot say that while being powerfully touched during the outpouring of the Spirit in the late 1980's-early 1990's he realized that God is playful. I have found the same to be true. He really loves to have fun. Even Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above His brethren (Hebrews 1:9), and actually endured the cross, despising the shame for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus once said, 'whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it' (Mark 10:15). Childlike playfulness is a prerequisite for accessing the Kingdom!

Being playful is an attribute of many very successful people. Notice the following quote by B.C. Forbes, founder of the major business journal Forbes Magazine:

“Many of the most successful men I have known have never grown up. They have retained bubbling-over boyishness. They have relished wit. They have indulged humor. They have not allowed “dignity” to depress them into moroseness. Youthfulness of spirit is the twin brother of optimism, and optimism is the stuff of which American business success is fashioned. Resist growing up!”

According to the Bible joy is strength. Without it we will not persevere in the difficulties of spiritual things and the problems of life.

Do you play enough?