ideal hobby?
- Thread starter Sybs
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Dreamer
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- Nov 18, 2005
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God and Hobbies
I do not see how a hobby can take away from God unless we give it a position higher than Him. God takes pleasure in our gifts, abilities, and goals. Otherwise, He wouldn't have given these to us.
One of my hobbies is ventriloquism and puppetry, but I use it to proclaim Jesus and His love. That is an example of a hobby which can directly bring glory to Christ, if done in His spirit. If I use this hobby in wrong ways, I could do a lot of damage to the kingdom, though. Our hobbies need to be put under the blood of the Lamb, just like the other parts of our lives. Does that sound strange?
I do not believe that hobbies are intrinsically wrong. Unless one's hobby is bar-hopping, collecting stolen items, using people, or hurting people. Also, as I said before, if christians idolize a hobby above and beyond their love for the Lord Jesus, then our love for Jesus will become cold, and we will be in the Danger Zone.
Even Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. Not that it was his hobby, but I wonder if he did enjoy the craftsmanship of it. It was Paul's other job after becoming an apostle, so that he wouldn't have to always beg churches for love offerings.
Jesus helped His earthly father, Joseph, in the carpenters shop. His own hands, the hands of the King, crafting furniture and goods! Think about that. God gave us our bodies and minds to use for His glory. But He knows we live on this earth and that we will want to attain to goals. Goals are not wrong unless they are placed above Him. Our goals should be in line with what God wants for us. That means staying close to Him so that He can show the areas to spend time in and the areas to start saying "No," to.
I don't help all the time in Childrens Church like I used to. I used to have so much fun doing that. But I don't look down on the ones who still work with the children. It's their calling, and I respect that.
Sports ministries are also a great way to bring hobbies into a great witnessing tool! So many lonely children who want to play soccer, basketball, or baseball, and they can form teams under christian leadership, and even find the Lord Jesus as their Savior in the process! One of my acquaintances directs an awesome ministry here in town (it's nationwide), called UpWard Basketball/Soccer. Many children have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior through this ministry.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:7
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22 (Is your hobby bringing forth these fruits of the Spirit, that can only come from God?)
Is your hobby bringing glory to God? Do other people watch and ask you where you get your strength, interest, joy, to keep going with your hobby? Do you have a chance to witness to unbelievers who share your interest in your hobby?
Even golfing could be a ministry, if others saw the love of Christ in you when you golfed.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Woooh! Read that again! Glorious, Lord! Take us and mold us and use us as Your own people. Amen.
I do not see how a hobby can take away from God unless we give it a position higher than Him. God takes pleasure in our gifts, abilities, and goals. Otherwise, He wouldn't have given these to us.
One of my hobbies is ventriloquism and puppetry, but I use it to proclaim Jesus and His love. That is an example of a hobby which can directly bring glory to Christ, if done in His spirit. If I use this hobby in wrong ways, I could do a lot of damage to the kingdom, though. Our hobbies need to be put under the blood of the Lamb, just like the other parts of our lives. Does that sound strange?
I do not believe that hobbies are intrinsically wrong. Unless one's hobby is bar-hopping, collecting stolen items, using people, or hurting people. Also, as I said before, if christians idolize a hobby above and beyond their love for the Lord Jesus, then our love for Jesus will become cold, and we will be in the Danger Zone.
Even Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. Not that it was his hobby, but I wonder if he did enjoy the craftsmanship of it. It was Paul's other job after becoming an apostle, so that he wouldn't have to always beg churches for love offerings.
Jesus helped His earthly father, Joseph, in the carpenters shop. His own hands, the hands of the King, crafting furniture and goods! Think about that. God gave us our bodies and minds to use for His glory. But He knows we live on this earth and that we will want to attain to goals. Goals are not wrong unless they are placed above Him. Our goals should be in line with what God wants for us. That means staying close to Him so that He can show the areas to spend time in and the areas to start saying "No," to.
I don't help all the time in Childrens Church like I used to. I used to have so much fun doing that. But I don't look down on the ones who still work with the children. It's their calling, and I respect that.
Sports ministries are also a great way to bring hobbies into a great witnessing tool! So many lonely children who want to play soccer, basketball, or baseball, and they can form teams under christian leadership, and even find the Lord Jesus as their Savior in the process! One of my acquaintances directs an awesome ministry here in town (it's nationwide), called UpWard Basketball/Soccer. Many children have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior through this ministry.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:7
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22 (Is your hobby bringing forth these fruits of the Spirit, that can only come from God?)
Is your hobby bringing glory to God? Do other people watch and ask you where you get your strength, interest, joy, to keep going with your hobby? Do you have a chance to witness to unbelievers who share your interest in your hobby?
Even golfing could be a ministry, if others saw the love of Christ in you when you golfed.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Woooh! Read that again! Glorious, Lord! Take us and mold us and use us as Your own people. Amen.
Last edited:
Sybs
Member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
- Messages
- 19
Amen dreamer, anything that is more in your heart and mind than Jesus Christ is an idol. You've said very true things there! Throughout my life i have been very guilty for idolizing hobbies and sport. But i have began to wage a war in my personal life and my heart, to cleanse me from this obsession to be the best in everything. Thx for your valluable words..
