Is traveling selfish?

[nk1828fo]

Hi there! So my husband and I have been talking about moving to NYC for a long time, we've both have been there and really enjoyed it. We want to move there for around 1-2 years and then see if we want to stay or move somewhere else. My husband is planning on finding a nursing program there so he could just finish up school.

When we got married we moved about an hour and a half away from most of our family/friends. We moved because my husband found a nice job and my parents and siblings moved for other reasons; anyway, they're the only family we've got over here. The rest of our family is 1.5 hours away. We deal well with change and we don't have kids right now.

So my question to you is:

Is it selfish to leave your hometown/family and travel long-term? The only person benefiting from traveling is the person traveling. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, we're both 21 and just want to experience the world a bit more. We are planning on finding a church family we could be a part of and hopefully outreach when we can. Leaving family is fine as long as you're going out on ministry or missions, but this is a little different, that's why I'm here. Please be honest.

 

[mukk_in]

Hi there! So my husband and I have been talking about moving to NYC for a long time, we've both have been there and really enjoyed it. We want to move there for around 1-2 years and then see if we want to stay or move somewhere else. My husband is planning on finding a nursing program there so he could just finish up school.

When we got married we moved about an hour and a half away from most of our family/friends. We moved because my husband found a nice job and my parents and siblings moved for other reasons; anyway, they're the only family we've got over here. The rest of our family is 1.5 hours away. We deal well with change and we don't have kids right now.

So my question to you is:

Is it selfish to leave your hometown/family and travel long-term? The only person benefiting from traveling is the person traveling. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, we're both 21 and just want to experience the world a bit more. We are planning on finding a church family we could be a part of and hopefully outreach when we can. Leaving family is fine as long as you're going out on ministry or missions, but this is a little different, that's why I'm here. Please be honest.

I'm not sure that you and your husband are the only ones benefiting from traveling. Certainly all the restaurants, stores, shopping malls, churches, etc. that you visit and their employees will also be benefiting from your travels. Ministry is much more than just preaching the gospel (think of the Lord's feeding, healing, clothing and other ministries). So enjoy your travels. That's my take. Peace in Christ .

 

[PloverWing]

It's a big, wonderful world. Go enjoy it!

 

[Kit Sigmon]

Me and my husband did quite a bit of traveling the early years of our marriage...we've been to different countries,
states and islands.
We loved fellowshiping with like-minded believers at churches in those places.
It was good we done all that back then because, he'd suffer a major injury that'd
leave him unable to work for several years and recovery was LONG and it really
was hard on him because it seemed he'd be healing and then boom, he was right
back to the doctor with another issue and this happened over and over again during those years he was unable to work...it was like taking two steps forward
and then having to go back three.
It was good to have those trips / vacation photos and memories to reminisce about during that time...and since there were many christian elements and worship attached to those times it was encouraging to us to remember the
other believers we'd met and what ministering we'd all done along the way.

 

[Andrew77]

Hi there! So my husband and I have been talking about moving to NYC for a long time, we've both have been there and really enjoyed it. We want to move there for around 1-2 years and then see if we want to stay or move somewhere else. My husband is planning on finding a nursing program there so he could just finish up school.

When we got married we moved about an hour and a half away from most of our family/friends. We moved because my husband found a nice job and my parents and siblings moved for other reasons; anyway, they're the only family we've got over here. The rest of our family is 1.5 hours away. We deal well with change and we don't have kids right now.

So my question to you is:

Is it selfish to leave your hometown/family and travel long-term? The only person benefiting from traveling is the person traveling. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, we're both 21 and just want to experience the world a bit more. We are planning on finding a church family we could be a part of and hopefully outreach when we can. Leaving family is fine as long as you're going out on ministry or missions, but this is a little different, that's why I'm here. Please be honest.

Well, the question seems a little different than your chat.

When you say long term traveling, that implies like just.... traveling.

Moving somewhere, to move there and live there, and work, or get schooling there... is not 'traveling'.

Equally selfish depends on if you are denying something to someone.

You are not denying anyone anything.

What does the Bible say? Matthew 19:5. "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?"

Right? You are with your husband, and your husband is with you. That's the primary obligation you have.

When Abramham was called by G-d, he moved thousands of miles from his extended family. He was with his wife, as he should be.

When Moses was called by G-d, he moved thousands of mails from his extended family, and went to Egypt and then the promise land.

When Jacob left his mother and father, and found his wives, he went far away.

Life long missionaries routinely leave their extended families, to be in the mission field... but usually with their wives and kids.

Now I have met some (usually men), who have decided they want to travel, and spend months away from their homes, and their children, so they can go to Mt. Fuji or some other place.

That is selfish. You are obligated to be with your family. Your family is your spouse, and your kids. That's your family.

But if I understand your post correctly, you have no kids, and you are going with your husband, and he's going with you.

There is nothing selfish about that. Unless there is more to this story, I don't see the issue.

The Christians that settled this land, left all their family across the ocean. It's pretty normal to move where the jobs are.

Unless there is something else you are not telling me.... I'd say go for it.

 

[nk1828fo]

Well, the question seems a little different than your chat.

When you say long term traveling, that implies like just.... traveling.

Moving somewhere, to move there and live there, and work, or get schooling there... is not 'traveling'.

Equally selfish depends on if you are denying something to someone.

You are not denying anyone anything.

What does the Bible say? Matthew 19:5. "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?"

Right? You are with your husband, and your husband is with you. That's the primary obligation you have.

When Abramham was called by G-d, he moved thousands of miles from his extended family. He was with his wife, as he should be.

When Moses was called by G-d, he moved thousands of mails from his extended family, and went to Egypt and then the promise land.

When Jacob left his mother and father, and found his wives, he went far away.

Life long missionaries routinely leave their extended families, to be in the mission field... but usually with their wives and kids.

Now I have met some (usually men), who have decided they want to travel, and spend months away from their homes, and their children, so they can go to Mt. Fuji or some other place.

That is selfish. You are obligated to be with your family. Your family is your spouse, and your kids. That's your family.

But if I understand your post correctly, you have no kids, and you are going with your husband, and he's going with you.

There is nothing selfish about that. Unless there is more to this story, I don't see the issue.

The Christians that settled this land, left all their family across the ocean. It's pretty normal to move where the jobs are.

Unless there is something else you are not telling me.... I'd say go for it.

Thank you for that! I basically said everything, just wondering other people's opinions

 

[nk1828fo]

Me and my husband did quite a bit of traveling the early years of our marriage...we've been to different countries,
states and islands.
We loved fellowshiping with like-minded believers at churches in those places.
It was good we done all that back then because, he'd suffer a major injury that'd
leave him unable to work for several years and recovery was LONG and it really
was hard on him because it seemed he'd be healing and then boom, he was right
back to the doctor with another issue and this happened over and over again during those years he was unable to work...it was like taking two steps forward
and then having to go back three.
It was good to have those trips / vacation photos and memories to reminisce about during that time...and since there were many christian elements and worship attached to those times it was encouraging to us to remember the
other believers we'd met and what ministering we'd all done along the way.

Thank you for sharing that! I'm sorry that happened to your husband but hopefully, those memories did help.

 

[RaymondG]

There is nothing you can do that is completely selfless. If you believe there is something wrong with traveling, to you it is wrong....No matter what opinions you agree with on here.

The person who have travels will say it is ok, those who haven't, may say it is up to you, those who can't afford it may say, there are better things you can do with your time and money.

You can choose between the opinions of others, or seek lords opinion and be persuaded in your own heart....

 

[Radagast]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with travelling. If people didn't move away from their relatives sometimes, nobody would be living in the Americas.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[Sketcher]

Selflish? Sure. Sinfully selfish? I don't think we can always rightly call travel for leisure sin.

 

[Janet Thomas]

Hi there! So my husband and I have been talking about moving to NYC for a long time, we've both have been there and really enjoyed it. We want to move there for around 1-2 years and then see if we want to stay or move somewhere else. My husband is planning on finding a nursing program there so he could just finish up school.

When we got married we moved about an hour and a half away from most of our family/friends. We moved because my husband found a nice job and my parents and siblings moved for other reasons; anyway, they're the only family we've got over here. The rest of our family is 1.5 hours away. We deal well with change and we don't have kids right now.

So my question to you is:

Is it selfish to leave your hometown/family and travel long-term? The only person benefiting from traveling is the person traveling. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, we're both 21 and just want to experience the world a bit more. We are planning on finding a church family we could be a part of and hopefully outreach when we can. Leaving family is fine as long as you're going out on ministry or missions, but this is a little different, that's why I'm here. Please be honest.

Personally, I don't see anything selfish about it. You have your own family, and you have the right to make your own decisions about traveling or moving. Personally, I love to travel and recently bought business class flights to spain to celebrate the new year where I want. So any decision you make is the right one.