Love to hear from and know who is listening
There are very few things in life I enjoy more than going camping with my wife, my children and my grandchildren. I make reservations months in advance. I spend many hours packing my camper and planning my weekends. When at the campsite I spend hours over the campfire cooking meals for my loved ones and even more hours in the evening relaxing around the campfire with my family and friends. So my hard question to you is this. If I spend 2 or 3 hours in a weeks time in Gods word and countless hours preparing for a weekend of camping, has my camper became my idol? Remember this, every good thing we enjoy in life can be a gift from God, including our hobbies.
James 1:17 NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Whether your hobby is sports, music, fishing, reading, or in my case camping, we can enjoy God through the things He has made. However, due to the sin in our lives, we also have to be on guard against turning our hobbies into idols. It’s all too easy to begin enjoying and worshiping the gift more than the Giver. But how do you know when a hobby has become an idol? First examine your mind! What occupies your mind when you have nothing else to think about? Does your mind go to your favorite hobby when you don’t have anything else to think about? The true god of your heart is your thoughts! Next take a look at your conversations. Remember, what’s on your mind and heart comes out of your mouth. What are you most passionate about? Some people talk about sports all the time. It’s just everyday conversation. It is so easy take a good thing and turn it into a god. Now look at your emotions. Do your hobbies incite or ignite your emotions in an unhealthy way? For example, does the football game cause your emotion to swing in such a way that you’re sad, grumpy, or even angry when your team doesn't win? Also look at your wallet. Are you spending so much money on your hobby that it is putting a financial strain on the rest of your household budget or even worse yet are you spending what you should be tithing to God on your hobby? Finally, examine the amount of time you are spending on your hobby. It is okay for you to spend more time on your hobby this week then you did worshiping God as long as you give God the glory for the gift he has given you. Just remember this, people tend to spend the majority of their time on the thing they love the most.
So how do we avoid losing perspective? How do we make sure to honor God with our minds, our hearts and our money when it comes to hobbies? Maximize your hobby for its intended purpose, a way to worship God. Some families use their hobbies as a way to spend quality time together. I do that with my family. When we are camping together I even set aside some time on Sunday morning to share a devotional with my children and grandchildren. Intentionally and continually offer thanks to God for your hobby. Hobbies are often times some of the most common and enjoyable means for bringing people together. So use your hobby as a why to share the gospel. When you are doing something together with someone that you both love it lowers their guard and gives you a more attentive ear, an opportunity to share the gospel with them that you likely would not have had if you had shown up on their doorstep with your bible in hand! Just remember this, the bible tells us that what ever we are doing whether it is your hobby, your work or your worship do it all for the glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
