Pastime

I read the Bible out of different translations. As soon as I finish reading from one translation, I switch to another one and begin again. I do not use any of the one-man paraphrases (Living Bible, the Message, Phillips...). Those may have their place, but I stick to more literal translations carried out by a committee of scholars.

One reason for using different translations is that the change in wording will sometimes make me notice something that I have overlooked in previous readings. For example, the English Standard Version of Proverbs 21:17 reads, "Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich." I suppose that I have read that verse a score of times, at least, but I do not recall having a serious discussion with myself about its application to me. I have never been a wine drinker, and somehow the word "pleasure" did not challenge me. But this year I am reading from the Geneva Bible (the translation that was most popular in England before the King James). The Geneva Bible translates this verse, "He that loveth pastime, shall be a poor man; and he that loveth wine and oil, shall not be rich." I found that a little more challenging.

We do not think of ourselves as people who love pleasure, but if we allow our pastimes to become a major measure of our lives, we are doing wrong. The time, money, and effort put on pastimes in this country is incredible. The extracurricular activities have overrun the curricular activities in many schools. Sports dominate the family schedule in many households.

A pastime has its place. We need some forms of recreation for the down times between duties. But when the pastimes become the main event and work and worship must be scheduled around the sporting activities, we are headed for poverty (materially and spiritually).