How do you feel about hobbies (spending extra time and money)

[Brownstoned]

Watching a football game, keeping track of statistics - probably not a big deal and doesn't use up a whole lot of time and money. But what about when you get into vehicle restoration, or home improvement? Couldn't that money be used elsewhere (in the church, outreach programs, missions, etc)? Should we be entirely focused on other people being saved, and as very little as possible on earthly things?
When I think about these things, I am reminded about Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). I don't know if their sin was so much that they didn't sell everything and give to the Lord, but that they pretended they did (they may have wanted to look like people who actually did give everything away). I could be wrong though. Just curious what other people think of the matter.

 

[timewerx]

I think hobbies are only good if they are proving to be of practical help to others or for a good cause like if you're trying to invent something or organize a project that will help solve a major problem in our world.

 

[Strong in Him]

There's nothing wrong with hobbies; quite the opposite.
Not having a hobby, and being stressed, overworked or bored, is bad for us and our health. Helping other people is great, but we are allowed to relax and look after ourselves too. In fact we should - Jesus said love your neighbour as yourself.
Another thing; when God created the universe there was no one around, at first, to enjoy it. He created birds, flowers, insects etc just because; it was only a few "days" later (and who knows how many years that was) that he created mankind and put them in a garden to care for it.

Ananais and Sapphira were free to use the money they got for their field in whatever way they wished. If they had said to the apostles, "we sold a field, this is 2/3 of the money we received for it", that would have been ok. But they didn't. They kept back some of the money for themselves while claiming that they were giving ALL of it to the apostles, and therefore to the Lord.

 

[Strong in Him]

I think hobbies are only good if they are proving to be of practical help to others or for a good cause like if you're trying to invent something or organize a project that will help solve a major problem in our world.

That's sad.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I think hobbies are only good if they are proving to be of practical help to others or for a good cause like if you're trying to invent something or organize a project that will help solve a major problem in our world.

That's GOOD and BIBLICAL.
Sound advice.
One of the FEW teachers, one of the FEW books to tackle this issue is
Watchman Nee and the book "Love Not The World".

But westerners are known worldwide to be so selfish, most of them have never even heard the Gospel Message or even thought of it, and they reject it if they do hear it.
OH, they will pretend like Ananias and Saphira did..... yes, that's true....

 

[Strong in Him]

That's GOOD and BIBLICAL.
Sound advice.
One of the FEW teachers, one of the FEW books to tackle this issue is
Watchman Nee and the book "Love Not The World".

But westerners are known worldwide to be so selfish, most of them have never even heard the Gospel Message or even thought of it, and they reject it if they do hear it.
OH, they will pretend like Ananias and Saphira did..... yes, that's true....

Are you saying that it's sinful, and worldly, to have hobbies?
Sorry but that's ridiculous.

 

[Hieronymus]

Hobbies are typically self centred and unimportant to anything but self satisfaction.

 

[Strong in Him]

Hobbies are typically self centred and unimportant to anything but self satisfaction.

Nonsense.

For one thing, you're giving the impression that an activity isn't worthwhile unless there is an end result - i.e never mind that you find it relaxing and enjoyable, if nothing is achieved, or produced, it's a waste. That sends out the message that it's only what people DO which is important - which, in turn, could lead to the feeling that if you can't do anything, you're not important. I know that one, I struggled with it during my 18 years with M.E and sometimes do so now that I'm unemployed. God loves us for who we are, not just what we do and can achieve for him.

Secondly, thousands of people do things that they love doing, and raise money for good causes at the same time. Who do you think makes all those cakes for coffee mornings? Or knits clothes for babies born prematurely? Or cooks lunches for the community/church? I don't - cooking, baking and knitting are not my hobbies or what I enjoy doing. I daresay that if you don't enjoy baking and icing cakes, you don't do that either.

Thirdly, joining a group that is based around a hobby is a great way of meeting people. A hobby can be social, and who knows what doors or opportunities may come from that?

But even if you were sitting in a room, on your own, doing what you wanted to do; that is not wrong or selfish. It's called enjoyment, or relaxation and can alleviate stress, depression, lower blood pressure etc, so that you feel rested and energised.

 

[Greg J.]

What is the difference between work and a hobby? Would anyone argue that God could have called someone to teach the poor how to make baskets so they could sell them and support themselves? What could happen so that making baskets ceased to be a gift from God? What if the person loved making baskets, and did it more than they had to for survival? What if they found a better way to make money—should they consider it a command from God to stop making baskets?

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, 1984 NIV)

God wants us to be good stewards of what we have been given. One of those things is our psychoemotional well-being. Humans have severe limitations that you can't really see until you are trying to do so much that you burn out, have a nervous breakdown, or damage the chemical balance in your brain. Most people think they could be doing more, but in reality, they are already living near the edge of what they can do. Don't let Satan steal your joy.

Our lives were never meant to be lived apart from the Holy Spirit. Our lives are supposed to be a celebration of our forgiveness from sins, fellowship with God, and fellowship with other people. The highest aspect of a person’s life is to glorify God. The way to do that is simple: whatever you do, glorify God in your heart.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17, 1984 NIV)

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:17-18, 1984 NIV)

Paul writes in Galatians 5:1-6 about trying to be morally right with God by obeying the Law given to Moses. However, we have been set free from the moral code (Colossians 2:14 and many other places). We are therefore also completely free regarding doing things that God never required.

There are Christians everywhere that still believe they need to behave in certain ways to be right with God, but that is not the case. We obey God when we have made him our Lord (necessary to be a Christian), and he will reward us, and not doing so leaves openings for Satan (and sin makes openings). But doing good and being obedient it doesn’t make us any more right with God. God accepts the worst of sinners. Jesus Christ died to make us right with God, and that work is finished.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17, 1984 NIV)

It is God that gives us various gifts, calling, and desires. If you want to be as pleasing to the Lord as possible, involve him in all you do with a heart of yieldedness to God’s will and be open for him to redirect you. Ask God (pray and keep praying) to show you how he wants to use your enjoyment of a certain hobby.

Don't let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't be doing. There is a time and season for everything. God has met you where you are in your walk with Christ. You can't be someone other than who you are.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:1-4, 1984 NIV)

Glorify God by doing the best job you can keeping football statistics! The thing to watch out for is if anything might interfere with your connection to God or continuing to know him better.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, 1984 NIV)

 

[timewerx]

That's GOOD and BIBLICAL.
Sound advice.
One of the FEW teachers, one of the FEW books to tackle this issue is
Watchman Nee and the book "Love Not The World".

But westerners are known worldwide to be so selfish, most of them have never even heard the Gospel Message or even thought of it, and they reject it if they do hear it.
OH, they will pretend like Ananias and Saphira did..... yes, that's true....

I agree. Just one thing I don't get. Aren't most westerners Christians (by official statistics alone) and most probably heard the Gospel?

 

[Hieronymus]

Nonsense.

Not nonsense, and you only confirm my point:

For one thing, you're giving the impression that an activity isn't worthwhile unless there is an end result - i.e never mind that you find it relaxing and enjoyable, if nothing is achieved, or produced, it's a waste.

The purpose you mention here is self satisfaction.

That sends out the message that it's only what people DO which is important

what they do for others is the important bit.

- which, in turn, could lead to the feeling that if you can't do anything, you're not important.

Being loving, caring and truthful is what's important.

I know that one, I struggled with it during my 18 years with M.E and sometimes do so now that I'm unemployed.

So am i.
I have toomuch time on my hands, but hobbies don't give me the satisfaction anymore, because it is just focussed on my feelings about myself, and they entail pointless feeble works.
It's vanity.

God loves us for who we are, not just what we do and can achieve for him.

The commandments are basically to love God and equal to that, love fellow humans.
This means repentance and baring fruits of the Faith.
All this doesn't imply it is 'bad' to have a hobby though.
Hobbies can also teach us useful skills.
But on their own it's rather vain.

Secondly, thousands of people do things that they love doing, and raise money for good causes at the same time. Who do you think makes all those cakes for coffee mornings? Or knits clothes for babies born prematurely? Or cooks lunches for the community/church? I don't - cooking, baking and knitting are not my hobbies or what I enjoy doing. I daresay that if you don't enjoy baking and icing cakes, you don't do that either.

But those things have a purpose for fellow humans.
And that's a good thing, not vain.
And thus more than just a hobby.

Maybe we mean something slightly different when we say "hobby".
I'm thinking of typical male hobbies, i think you think about people who do what they love to do of which others can benefit too.

Thirdly, joining a group that is based around a hobby is a great way of meeting people. A hobby can be social, and who knows what doors or opportunities may come from that?

That's true.

But even if you were sitting in a room, on your own, doing what you wanted to do; that is not wrong or selfish. It's called enjoyment, or relaxation and can alleviate stress, depression, lower blood pressure etc, so that you feel rested and energised.

...but this is all directed at a person's own well being, and therefore the centre is the self, therefore it is self centred.

 

[timewerx]

Are you saying that it's sinful, and worldly, to have hobbies?
Sorry but that's ridiculous.

I think it depends entirely on what activity you decided to pursue as a hobby.

Collecting expensive cars vs baking cakes and sharing them with your poor brothers and sisters in the faith. It's easy to see which hobby is worldly and one that is Godly.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I have a couple rules for my "hobbies." Keep in mind, these are personal convictions and are not necessarily 100% scriptural.

1. For any hobby that requires a "significant" expenditure - car collecting, for instance - I match the expenditure with a gift to the Lord's work (above and beyond my tithe).

2. I do not participate in hobbies that will regularly prevent me from gathering together with the saints, e.g. church on Sunday.

Amazingly, some of my hobbies involve other Christians giving us yet another opportunity to fellowship. Others of my hobbies have given me opportunities to witness to the lost. Much like anything else in life, as long as a hobby does not become an idol, we have freedom.

 

[amariselle]

Hobbies are typically self centred and unimportant to anything but self satisfaction.

I disagree. They are quite often an expression of our God-given creativity, and they can be a blessing to others as well.

 

[Strong in Him]

What is the difference between work and a hobby?

Work is what you do to earn a living. Not that it can't be enjoyable or something you're passionate about, but paid employment nevertheless. Some people have to get a job - any job - to pay the mortgage or support the family.
A hobby is a past time, a form of relaxation, something you enjoy; an interest.

Would anyone argue that God could have called someone to teach the poor how to make baskets so they could sell them and support themselves?

Not at all.
But how do you know that basket making didn't start out as being the person's hobby, which God then took and wanted to use for others?

What could happen so that making baskets ceased to be a gift from God?

If God has given someone the gift of making baskets then that is a gift from God. Whether they make baskets only for themselves, when they need them, make them full time, and get paid for doing so, or pass their skill onto others so that they can benefit from it - is between them and God; he will one day ask all of us how we have used the gifts he gave us.

What if the person loved making baskets, and did it more than they had to for survival?

No reason why they shouldn't.
If someone only needs to make 10 baskets a week to support themselves, but love the work so much that they make 20; so what? How they use the baskets and/or the extra money they make is up to them.
The OP quoted Ananais and Sapphira; Peter said to them that after they had sold their field, the money was there's to use as they wished. Keeping back some of it for themselves was not the sin - the sin was that after they had done so they lied and claimed that they were giving ALL the proceeds to the church.

What if they found a better way to make money—should they consider it a command from God to stop making baskets?

You're talking about 2 different things here.
If God has given someone a gift and asks them to use that gift to help others, that is one thing.
If he has called and commanded them to use that gift in a certain place in a certain way, then, imo, they shouldn't stop unless he tells them to or leads them somewhere else. But even if he does, he won't necessarily take the gift away.

God wants us to be good stewards of what we have been given. One of those things is our psychoemotional well-being. Humans have severe limitations that you can't really see until you are trying to do so much that you burn out, have a nervous breakdown, or damage the chemical balance in your brain. Most people think they could be doing more, but in reality, they are already living near the edge of what they can do. Don't let Satan steal your joy.

I more or less said that; I'm arguing that hobbies are good, fun and relaxing.

Our lives were never meant to be lived apart from the Holy Spirit. Our lives are supposed to be a celebration of our forgiveness from sins, fellowship with God, and fellowship with other people. The highest aspect of a person’s life is to glorify God. The way to do that is simple: whatever you do, glorify God in your heart.

I agree - and that can include hobbies.

 

[timewerx]

Amazingly, some of my hobbies involve other Christians giving us yet another opportunity to fellowship. Others of my hobbies have given me opportunities to witness to the lost. Much like anything else in life, as long as a hobby does not become an idol, we have freedom.

Still depends on the hobby.

If you belong to some "car collector's club" for example. If you are really witnessing to fellow club owner, you'll tell them to quite the hobby and do something more useful with their time and money and will do so yourself...

Because if you don't, you're simply hiding the truth from them and that is not witnessing.

 

[brinny]

Hobbies are healthy and nurture one's heart, mind, and soul.

Of course, perhaps, it depends on what KIND of hobby it is.

 

[Mudinyeri]

If you are really witnessing to fellow club owner, you'll tell them to quite the hobby and do something more useful with their time and money and will do so yourself...

Because if you don't, you're simply hiding the truth from them and that is not witnessing.

What truth is that? (Scriptural reference, please. References from the book of II Opinions do not count.)

 

[Strong in Him]

The purpose you mention here is self satisfaction.what they do for others is the important bit.Being loving, caring and truthful is what's important.So am i.

Yes but I'm also saying that it is not wrong to do something that gives us pleasure just because it gives us pleasure.
We are important too; we are allowed to look after and enjoy ourselves.

I have toomuch time on my hands, but hobbies don't give me the satisfaction anymore, because it is just focussed on my feelings about myself, and they entail pointless feeble works.

Well I admit that it depends on what someone's hobby is and how much time they spend on it. We are not to worship idols or do anything that may get put of control or become an addiction and hurt others.
Playing a couple of harmless computer games a day because you enjoy them, is one thing and is fine; sitting in a room for 3-4 hours at a time playing violent games, isn't.

It's vanity.The commandments are basically to love God and equal to that, love fellow humans.
This means repentance and baring fruits of the Faith.
All this doesn't imply it is 'bad' to have a hobby though.

That was my point; that hobbies are not bad, or wrong. The posts I read were implying that they are.

Hobbies can also teach us useful skills.
But on their own it's rather vain.

Not really.
First of all, if your want to practise your hobby entirely n your own, that's up to you.
Secondly, a lot of hobbies involve creative skills and these have to be practised before they can be offered to others. A boy wouldn't say, my hobby is kicking a ball; that qualifies me to teach football to others. He would have to practice, maybe on his own, to improve his skills and learn new ones. When he has done that, whether he plays football professionally, teaches it to other boys as a paid job or just relaxes by playing in a team on a Saturday, is up to him.
I enjoy making greetings cards. If I practised for hours and bought all the right equipment, I daresay I could sell them and make some money from them. If I also taught, wrote books, produced DVDs and ran courses, I dare say I could probably turn my hobby into a career. I don't want to do that; I just want to make a card for Mrs A to assure her she is not forgotten, or for Mr B who is facing an operation. Because I care about them, want to make the best cards that I can for them and believe in doing everything for the glory of God; I practice, and may experiment and learn new skills. I don't believe that is wrong. If I sit in my craft room for 2 hours, creating and playing, but don't actually produce anything at the end of it, that is still not wrong.
A couple of posts seemed to imply that it would be.

And thus more than just a hobby.

No, hobbies may benefit other people, they are still our hobbies though.
If someone asked me to make 3 cakes for a church fair, that, for me, would be a hassle and not very enjoyable - even if they were all very plain with just icing sugar on top. Someone who enjoyed cooking could probably make 5 or 6 in the same amount of time, get a lot more pleasure out of doing them, and they might well have fancy icing/sugarcraft work on them.

Maybe we mean something slightly different when we say "hobby".

Could be. Sorry, I may have reacted without knowing exactly what you meant.

I'm thinking of typical male hobbies, i think you think about people who do what they love to do of which others can benefit too.That's true....but this is all directed at a person's own well being, and therefore the centre is the self, therefore it is self centred.

We all take up hobbies to relax and because we enjoy doing them.
Whether we make cakes for ourselves that we end up eating ourselves, or give, or sell, them for good causes; that is still true - it is designing, making and decorating them which is enjoyable. I daresay that some people find playing football, darts or dominoes enjoyable; I don't. I think they are pointless and boring. But whether someone plays dominoes purely to relax or starts a competition, builds a team and so meets other people and raise money - that is their hobby and they have the right to follow it.

That's true....but this is all directed at a person's own well being, and therefore the centre is the self, therefore it is self centred.

Relaxing and doing something that you enjoy, is not a sin - although if someone has such low self esteem that they believe they are not important, it my feel like that.
I can spend hours colouring cards for other people; if I start to colour a picture for myself, that no one else will see or benefit from; I feel guilty. That doesn't mean that colouring is wrong or has suddenly become sinful, just that I feel I have to give all the time, and that I'm not that important.

 

[Strong in Him]

Still depends on the hobby.

Obviously.

If you belong to some "car collector's club" for example. If you are really witnessing to fellow club owner, you'll tell them to quite the hobby and do something more useful with their time and money and will do so yourself...

What will you "witness" if you do that - that Christians are judgemental and don't like anyone having fun?

You're perfectly entitled to say to any fellow car collectors, "hey, why don't we use these for good or give them away to people who really need them?" But telling the owner that he should use his time more constructively and spend his money on other things, is not the way to go.

Because if you don't, you're simply hiding the truth from them and that is not witnessing.

Like I said, that kind of attitude doesn't actually witness anything.
The truth is that God wants people to know him and, if they confess him as Lord, to have first place in their lives. If someone can do that and collect cars, with a clear conscience; that is between them and God and not for us to comment or judge.