By The Fireside: Don’t Have A Hobby

Don’t Have A Hobby

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Many men pick up a hobby as a pleasurable distraction from their stress-filled lives. A hobby is usually pursued in the interest of relaxation.

Most hobbies have some worth in fulfilling and educating a man. A man’s hobby-horse is usually identified as something he spends much money on, but only spare time.

In the U.S., we have made ‘what we do to make money’, and ‘what we are made to do’ the same thing. We assume that if the job puts money in the bank and food on the table, it must be good for me to do. Since employment eats up so much of our time, we usually pursue the job with the highest pay. “Money answereth all things.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19)

But then that job gets stressful, boring, time-consuming, repetitive, negative, or unfulfilling. Because we had the ‘if it works, do it’ pragmatism, many will look to other entertainments for challenges, and a sense of accomplishment. Hence, the hobby is borne.

A hobby dulls the pain of 8+ hours that the average man gives at one occupation that leaves him empty, despite the money. Rather than deal with that, he finds something to spend his money on (think: RE-spend his time, an overdraft of time) to help him feel better about himself.

That man will dig himself into a committment of money, enslaving him to the job he hates. That man will dump all his spare time into his hobby, neglecting personal growth, his family, his friends, and necessary preparations for the future. Worst of all, he will never face the fact that God made him for a specific purpose that only money from a job won’t suffice.

A Christian should obey the voice of God, and do what the Lord would have him do: a vocation (literally means: calling). God’s calling is both fulfilling and rewarding in material and eternal things. A child of God operating in the call of God has no need for a distraction. Rather, he may find his all-in-all where God has placed him.

So don’t have a hobby: get a calling!