OPPORTUNITIES FOR “LEISURE TIME”

Caring for their Scriptural responsibilities and sharing the Christian message with others, while most important, would not take all their waking hours. Their Master, by his own example, showed the propriety of having some time for rest and refreshment. After a full day of witnessing, Jesus said to his disciples: “‘Come, you yourselves, privately into a lonely place and rest up a bit.’ For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure time even to eat a meal.”​—Mark 6:31.

The same Greek verb for “rest up” (in the middle voice of the verb) is rendered, at Philemon 20, as “refresh” (in the active voice of the verb). So “leisure time” may be used to provide a change of pace from the regular routine or to find refreshment for continuing with one’s customary work. These early Christians, while primarily active and zealous in proclaiming the Kingdom message, found time occasionally for a change of pace that genuinely refreshed.

No doubt they visited with one another and shared meals together. In addition, various forms of proper recreation were available that these disciples or their children may have enjoyed. Young men and others are referred to as playing musical instruments in pre-Christian times. (1 Sam. 16:18; 1 Ki. 1:40; Lam. 5:14; compare Luke 15:25.) Children are spoken of as playing games and dancing. (Matt. 11:16, 17) In contrast with whatever “bodily training” there was then available as being beneficial “for a little,” godly devotion expressed in deeds was “beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.” Whatever Christians did was kept in balance, not reflecting the wild abandon of those who were not Christians. It never overshadowed their “godly devotion,” the real fountainhead of their joy.​—1 Tim. 4:8.