fun... is it really...?

The subject of fun came up today...
which sent me on a search in the Word...

Fun is not found in most translations...
Once in NIV... none in KJV... ESV... NASB...
several times in NLT... and 35 times in the Message...

Fun in the Word is nearly always used in a negative sense...

At my scanning... most often in the context of making fun of...
or as a reason for causing trouble...

My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

They may say, "Come and join us. Let's hide and kill someone!

Just for fun, let's ambush the innocent!

Proverbs 1:10-11 NLT

Fun appears to be a word for the flesh...

not one that feeds the spirit...

There are plenty of things that aren't fun...

at least not always...

and to persevere takes time... energy... intention...

Marriage... for one...

I love being married...

I love my husband...

but sometimes it's hard...

Teaching Bible to fourth graders...

another hard endeavor...

vying for attention... handing out discipline...

giving instructions multiple times...

Sometimes these things are hard...

cause dread...

but always... when you've gotten past the hard moment...

they are worth it...

Looking back... having done the hard... as best you can... it's good...

rewarding... 

instills joy...

Now there's a spirit word...

Be joyful always...

1 Thessalonians 5:16

But fun... that's a worldly word...

one that mostly leads to consequences...

hard... often lasting... consequences...

hang-overs...

addictions...

STD's...

So I consider... Fun... is it really...? and for how long...?

Doing wrong is fun for a fool,

but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

Proverbs 14:9 NLT