Does a persons hobby interfere with their spiritual life?

Question

I like to restore classic jeeps and can pine away hours and money for something that has no eternal value. Yet it keeps me sane when spiritual things so often don't (on a here and now basis).

Answer 1

What a great question! Yes I think it's important to have a hobby, but I think it can still be considered spiritual because you are taking the time to focus yourself on one thing - much like when one meditates. Your creativity falls with Jeeps, mine falls with writing. I write journals every day and I never re-read them. I delete them after 1 month and it is so cleansing! Sometimes when I'm "in the moment" of something, I like to write a detail about it and what's going on. But once it's over with, the past becomes the past. It helps me focus and gain control of my thoughts to write. So I completely understand you - we must do whatever keeps us sane :) as life has a way of throwing some curve balls every now and again.

Answer 2

The mistake here is in thinking that a spiritual life isn't a hobby.

I have no interest in spirituality. Many people apparently find that disturbing, and want to believe that spirituality is essential to human life in the same way that eating and sleeping and exercise and sex are. It's not - it's really more like baseball or gardening or birdwatching. Some people are really into baseball, others aren't. Same with those other things, or with restoring classic jeeps (which sounds really cool, by the way!). Nothing wrong with that.

I say if you like restoring classic jeeps and doing so keeps you sane, don't let societal concerns about spirituality distract you from your hobby. That's where you're getting a deep connection with the real world, and that's what really matters in the long run. The day you lay on your deathbed, you're not going to be thinking "I wish I'd spent more time thinking about spirituality", but you'd sure regret it if you hadn't spent time doing what you really enjoy doing - your hobby.

Usually when some nonbeliever says "I feel sorry for the Christian believer who wastes his life on that stuff" I point out that Christians don't seem to see it was wasting their lives, and if they enjoy belief, let 'em spend time on it.
But in your case, it's clear that the spirituality thing IS merely taking time from what you want to do. Remember that all the spirituality in the world isn't going to help you when you're dead. You can't get back your time on this Earth, and if you wasted it on spiritual stuff instead of spending it wisely on your hobby, you simply threw away your life.

Answer 3

Maybe you need to separate the spiritual concepts from the religious ones....Restoring jeeps would interfere with religion....Restoring jeeps can be a highly spiritual activity, because God can show you true spiritual concepts as you do your work....Spirituality makes your life more full....Religion robs you of your life and your money.

Answer 4

There is a story- A man believed that he is the most pious person and is dearest to god as he used to recite his name every second and preaches his values. Once the god presented himself to him and he asked "am I not the best disciple& follower to you?: The god smiled and showed a cobbler who was working with dead skins and making chappals. He said, this is the best disciple I have". The first man was surprised and asked god as to why he is the best. The god replied " watch him- before starting his work, he recites my name once and then involves himself fully in his work. Before stopping for lunch, he recites my name like thanking me, then he goes back to his work. While retiring to sleep he calls my name once more and peacefully sleeps. He does his assigned work which makes him happy, really well and just recites my name not for any favours but for pleading me good health and better enjoyable work. So he is the best I have'''' So if you are happy with your jeeps, do it with whole heartedly and if that keeps you happy that's the spirtuality that suits you.

Answer 5

I think we are living in world where spirituality has to be backed up with escapism. What I mean is, we are bombarded 24/7 that we need stronger means of keeping sane. I like to do knitting, beading to concentrate on something that brings me pleasure and keep me from thinking about all the craziness going on around me.

As long as it isn't self-destructive behavior (drugs, criminal activity), I think what you are doing is what more people need to be doing instead of spreading their definition of God to people who don't want to hear it.

Answer 6

not necessarily...
one can have a hobby like yours n lead a happy n sane life.
it is only when the values of ur hobby and ur spiritual do not coincide or even clash that is when they interfere!
so as long as what you do does nt mess with ur conscience
it is alright

Answer 7

I don't know why this popped up to me this morning but here you are and I'm going to tell you from my heart that God loves us unconditionally I don't believe that us having hobby's is interfering with are spiritual life all you can do is pray about what you need and I'm sure God will answer you God bless you

Answer 8

Yes it definitely can do that if it stops you from caring for your spiritual need there is nothing wrong with recreation, and it can refresh you as you say but we need to balance our activities and are for our spiritual needs and to build our relationship with God there needs to be time to build that relationship with God otherwise as you said you will be spending your time and money that has absolutely no eternal value and is therefore worthless in reality. so really we need to spend our time wisely and schedule our time balancing it between spiritual things work and hobbies so that we don't get engrossed just in our selfish interests but include our spiritual interests as well as investing time in our relationship with God also, this all takes self control or self discipline!

Answer 9

It can. If restoring classic jeeps is something your REEEALLY good at, never forget to thank God for giving you such a loved skill.

Answer 10

Not necessarily but,......

Colossians 3:
2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.


Matthew 6
19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mark 4:

18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.


...long as God is first