The ability to find pleasure and joy in life. Scripture sees the capacity for enjoyment as a gift from God, whose people are to find pleasure and happiness in him and the many blessings he has given to them.
Human capacity and opportunity for enjoyment is bestowed by God
Ecclesiastes 5:18–20; 1 Timothy 6:17 See also Nehemiah 9:35; Ecclesiastes 2:24–26
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him — for this is his lot. Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
People find enjoyment in a great diversity of things
Enjoyment of the land and its produce
Numbers 14:31 See also Genesis 45:17–18; Deuteronomy 20:6, Deuteronomy 28:30; Isaiah 65:22; Jeremiah 31:5
But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected — and they will enjoy it.
Enjoyment of long life and health
Ecclesiastes 11:8 See also Deuteronomy 6:1–2; 1 Chronicles 29:28; Proverbs 28:16; 3 John 1:2
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
Enjoyment of peace and security
Psalm 37:11 See also Judges 8:28; Psalm 37:3; Jeremiah 33:6–9; Acts 9:31, Acts 24:2
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
Enjoyment of prosperity
Psalm 106:4–5 See also Psalm 37:18–19
Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation, that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, and rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, and give glory with Your inheritance.
Enjoyment of food and drink
Ecclesiastes 8:15 See also Nehemiah 8:9–12; Habakkuk 1:16
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
Enjoyment of friendship and fellowship
Romans 15:24 See also Judges 19:6, Judges 19:9, Judges 19:22; Psalm 55:12–14
I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
Enjoyment of love
Proverbs 7:18 See also Ecclesiastes 9:9
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
Enjoyment of the fruits of righteous living
Isaiah 3:10 See also Proverbs 13:2
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Enjoyment of good favour
Acts 2:46–47 See also Acts 7:45–46
With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Enjoyment of work
Ecclesiastes 3:22 See also Ecclesiastes 3:13
I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
Enjoyment of light of the world
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
Enjoyment of hospitality
Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
Enjoyment of rest
The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
Enjoyment of fragrance
Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”
People also find unwholesome enjoyment in sin
Hebrews 11:24–25 See also Job 20:12–14
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
The land enjoying rest
2 Chronicles 36:21 See also Leviticus 26:34, Leviticus 26:43
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.
Lack of enjoyment
Ecclesiastes 4:8 See also Deuteronomy 28:30; Job 20:17–19, Job 21:23–25; Ecclesiastes 2:26, Ecclesiastes 6:1–6
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile — a miserable task.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.