The Heart in Entertainment: Having a Right Heart in our Entertainment Choices

1. what’s in you is what entertains you

job 31:1

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.”

Have you dedicated your course to not bringing your sin to what entertains you? It’s not what you look at as much as how you look at it. So if you know your weakness, why give your flesh opportunity to further defile you?

a. indulging in your struggles

There are many forms of entertainment available, including things that pertain to your specific sin struggles. We are warned carefully not to use our freedom to make provision for our sin struggles.

galatians 5:13 (esv)

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

other Scriptures to consider:

Matthew 5:28-29

Daniel 1:8

Romans 13:14

b. to the pure, all things are pure...

titus 1:15

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”

The heart is revealed by your response to entertainment; what you bring to it is usually more impactful than the entertainment itself. What you choose to delight in speaks more of your current heart than Hollywood’s.

c. it’s not what goes into you, but what’s already in you...

mark 7:14-15

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

Don’t be deceived; it is not as much what is outside of you, but what is on the inside of you that kills.

proverbs 11:27

“He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.”

what you look for is what you will find.

psalm 18:25-26

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

what you practice is what you experience, even with God.

matthew 6:22-23

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

What is your focus on? What you aim for is what you are going to eventually get out of everything. Our focus should be on walking like Christ:

I john 2:6

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

In addition to walking like Christ, we should strive to know Him more in our salvation:

hebrews 12:2-4

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

d. is it “unclean?”

romans 14:14

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.

If you think, feel or like that something is unclean, then it is unclean to you, no matter the actual nature of it. If you have doubts about whether your choices are offensive to God, than you are already sinning against Him by choosing what you’re not sure wouldn’t offend Him.

I corinthians 10:23-24

“’Everything is permissible’--but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible’--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Be aware of your brother’s needs. Does what entertains you cause someone with you to stumble? Does the very act of talking about your entertainment choices cause someone to stumble?

romans 14:19-22

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

2. you reap what you sow

galatians 6:7-8

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

hosea 8:7

“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.”

hosea 10:12-13

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love…But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil…”

a. beware of complacency

proverbs 1:32-33

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Complacency is not inert or neutral. It is destructive, so beware of ahhh-MUSE-ment.

For complacency destroys those who do not constantly seek after the Lord in all they do.

isaiah 32:9-15

You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! 10 In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. 11 Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your fine clothes and wrap yourselves in rags. 12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines 13 and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers—yes, mourn for all houses of merriment and for this city of revelry. 14 The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, 15 till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.

isaiah 47:8

“Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’

God will not be mocked; if you sow complacency than you will reap the fruit of the seed unplanted.

proverbs 14:23

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

b. feed the right wolf

There’s an old proverb about two wolves. One wolf is angry, jealous, and evil, while the other wolf is kind, generous and good. The question is, which of these two wolves will win? And as the proverb goes, the wolf you feed will be the one that prevails.

That’s very dangerous if the wolf you feed is your heart, because your heart is deceitful:

jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

As you can see, our hearts cannot be trusted. Therefore, giving our hearts what they desire is akin to feeding the monster that will destroy you.

3. guard your heart!

proverbs 4:23

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Guard your heart; for it is from your heart you respond to your life’s circumstances and sets the course of your life’s next choice.

james 3:6

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

matthew 12:34-35

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

4. pleasing thoughtfulness

psalm 19:14

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Please God with what you think on. No matter what you are watching, reading, listening to, etc. Are you thinking on God’s ways? Are you learning from the examples? Are you applying God’s Word to the scenarios? Do you see Christ in it all? Make the effort to that end just as a romantic would be reminded of his love in everything around him.

philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

colossians 3:11

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

I corinthians 1:30

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

a. wholesome thinking

II peter 3:1

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Use whatever you watch, listen to, read, etc. to remind you of what the Scriptures say so that your will be continually spurred on to wholesome thinking of Jesus.

5. what you put to your senses

While we don’t always get to choose what we see, hear, smell or taste, when it comes to entertainment, we do have a choice. The question, then, is what will we choose to sense?

psalm 101:2-3

psalm 101:6

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

What do you have your mind on? Are you making the effort to lead a life that is wicked or that is blameless?

proverbs 17:4

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Our heart’s maturity or immaturity is demonstrated and disclosed by the things we wacth, pay attention to, or listen to.

proverbs 1:10-11

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;

So choose what you put to your senses wisely.

proverbs 24:13-14

“Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Even if you are entertained by your food tastes you can learn wisdom from it or be harmed by it.

proverbs 25:16

If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.

deuteronomy 28:65-67

Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. 66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life. 67 In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”—because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.

What comes to your sense will effect your thinking so make sure you lead it towards faith rather than fulfilling just your senses.

II corinthians 5:7

For we live by faith, not by sight.

matthew 11:17

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

Be aware of the effects that entertainment should have on you; if it hinders your walk with the Lord then do something about it.

hebrews 12:1

I corinthians 6:12

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

I corinthians 10:23-24

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Whatever action you take in removing entertainment choices that hinder your walk, be sure that you’re also taking action that will benefit you in your walk with Christ:

proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

philippians 4:4-8

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

6. what is your delight?

a. folly?

proverbs 15:21

“Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

To do folly is the entertainment of the fool, but a man of understanding will learn from folly to keep to the straight and narrow road.

proverbs 10:23

“To do evil is like sport to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”

What is your recreation? What brings you pleasure? What do you delight in? Develop a taste for wisdom!

b. ...or wisdom?

proverbs 3:15

{Wisdom} is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with {it}.

Wisdom is better than everything you could desire, but we often do not to make the effort to get wisdom and settle for far less pleasures that do not last.

proverbs 17:24

“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”

Keep wisdom in sight, never let your eyes begin to look aimlessly or wander from wisdom.

psalm 119:97

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

c. wandering eyes...

While the continuous pursuit of wisdom is always beneficial, our hearts are very often occupied searching for what is pleasing to the flesh.

I john 2:16

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

This is the danger of wandering around the internet or channel surfing. At best, it is an empty pursuit. At worst, it can lead to danger.

ecclesiastes 2:1-3

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

Solomon certainly tried to see what the benefits of folly and worldly pursuits were. His conclusion is striking:

ecclesiastes 7:3

“Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.”

d. earthly vs. eternal pleasures

Beware of frivolous things that distract from our true need. Look for wisdom in all things so that your heart may always be turned to eternal pleasures.

proverbs 18:1

“An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.”

Does your entertainment leave you isolated and seeking selfish ends? That rages against wisdom.

I corinthians 10:6-7

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.”

exodus 32:6

So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

Beware of setting your heart on evil things to be entertained by. It leads to destruction. It will not build you up.

I peter 4:1-2

“…he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

Beware of living for evil human desires rather than to fulfill God’s will. For the pleasures of this world choke out eternal pleasures, as shown in Matthew 13:22:

matthew 13:22

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

opportunity cost...

There is an opportunity cost in all choices, so choosing temporary, sinful pleasures steals away from ever growing, ever greater eternal pleasures, as the following Scriptures show us.

hebrews 11:25

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

proverbs 13:11

Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

james 4:3

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

growing worldly desire = diminishing return

Worldly amusements have the effect of an ever increasing craving with an ever diminishing pleasure. Consider these examples:

jeremiah 3:23-24

Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our ancestors’ labor— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

ephesians 4:19

Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

growing Godly desire = growing joy

Unlike worldly amusements, God’s delights satisfy our desires with every increasing joy.

psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

psalm 4:6-7

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.

proverbs 13:25

The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

e. the truest source of pleasure

God is the best, truest source of pleasure. So seek Him in all your work and recreation, for in Him you will enjoy all good things!

psalm 36:7-8

“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.”

psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

I timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

ecclesiastes 2:24-25

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

f. hate evil by forsaking it

psalm 97:10-11

“Let those who love the LORD hate evil...Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”

Let us hate evil by forsaking it. This is a different approach than pretending that we don’t see evil, or that evil doesn’t exist all around us. The fact of evil influences is clearly acknowledged in Scripture. Consider these examples:

john 17:15

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

matthew 18:7

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”

I corinthians 5:9-10

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.”

While we should not pretend not to see or acknowledge the evil in our world, neither should we presume that we are better or superior than the evils we observe around us:

titus 3:1-3

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Indeed, we are to hate evil, but the best way to hate evil is not to ignore it or to presume ourselves superior. Rather, the best way to hate evil is to forsake it by choosing God and His ways over the worldly and evil alternatives.

matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

As we forsake evil by preferring God and His ways, we should do so with the motivation of bringing Glory to God and salvation to the lost.

john 17:19

For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

jude 20-23

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

7. learn from what you observe

proverbs 24:32

“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw…”

Learn from what you observe, good or bad. Do not be AhhhMUSEd by what entertains you. Keep your mind working so that you can learn and add to your wisdom.

a. imitate what is good

III john 1:11

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.”

Imitate what is good not evil. There are examples to follow and others to avoid. Many examples can be found in entertainment if we will think as we are entertained. Entertain the thoughts of what is going on while applying God’s Word. If you make a habit of this you will be learning, encouraged and warned from movies, radio, books, music, youtube, etc. as you seek to apply God’s Word even to made up scenarios.

b. seek wisdom, not folly

proverbs 10:23

“To do evil is like sport to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”

Are you seeking folly or wisdom? Those who love wisdom find it to be a recreation to participate in wisdom. So apply wisdom to your entertainment and greater joy you will have from your entertainment.

c. set yourself apart for Christ

ephesians 5:8 and 15

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…

15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise…”

Our lives should be so different from the world’s as we are children of light. Show the contrast to the world by learning from your mistakes and other’s mistakes. We’ve spent enough time walking in the folly of the world.

I peter 4:3

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

d. don’t merely be ahhh-mused by God’s Word

ezekiel 33:31-32

“My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.”

Beware of even taking God’s Word as an AhhhMUSEment. It is alright to be amazed, entertained and delighted by the Word, but if you do not do what it says you’ve only be AhhhMUSEd.

e. don’t look down...

romans 2:17-24

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Beware the hypocrisy of looking down on the world’s sins and feeling better for being relatively more upright than what you observe in the world.

luke 18:9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We must not only act better then the world; our hearts should be all together different. Learn from the world, even unbelievers’ virtues and failures are used as examples by the Lord:

jeremiah 2:10-11

Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this: 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.

I corinthians 10:11-12

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

f. be alert!

I peter 5:8

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Be alert and self-controlled because we have an enemy who seeks to harm us. He will steal whatever we leave unguarded, and if he could, he would kill us and destroy our relationship with the Lord:

john 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

II john 8

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

So beware, because his schemes are propagated everywhere in this world:

ephesians 2:1-2

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

In spite of all this, we have One who is greater still, and we can rejoice in security with Him as we walk with Him.

I john 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

I john 5:18

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

8. heart-check questions

a. do my entertainment choices draw me closer to God?

Do my entertainment choices (what I watch, listen to, read, etc.) and what I seek in them (what I find pleasure in) draw me closer to the Lord or hinder my walk with Him?

romans 8:5-8

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

ephesians 4:17-31

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

hebrews 12:1-4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

II timothy 2:22

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

b. do my entertainment choices draw others closer to God?

Do my entertainment choices (directly or indirectly) draw others closer to the Lord?

luke 11:23

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

II timothy 2:21

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

c. do my entertainment choices promote fellowship with other believers?

Do my entertainment choices build up fellowship with other believers?

romans 14:19

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

d. do my entertainment choices do harm to others?

Do my entertainment choices do no harm to those I have opportunity with?

romans 13:10

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

e. can I give thanks to God for the entertainment I enjoy?

Can I give thanks to God for the entertainment I enjoy?

I corinthians 10:30

If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

romans 14:6

Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

romans 14:22

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

f. is my approach to entertainment pleasing to God?

Is how I am approaching entertainment pleasing to God?

hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

II corinthians 5:9-10

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

psalm 101:2-8

I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. 3 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. 4 The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. 5 Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. 8 Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.

g. do my entertainment choices glorify God?

Do my entertainment choices glorify God by seeking Him and seeking to bless others with Him?

I corinthians 10:23-24

I corinthians 10:31-11:1

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.