Hobbies to the Glory of God

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

Is it right for a Christian to have hobbies? Is it possible to knit, garden, or smoke meat to the glory of God?

Christian brother or sister, the first thing I’d like to say to you is “that is a great question!” It is good and right for us to be concerned about giving the Lord our best in everything we do. As followers of Jesus, we know that God has entrusted each of us with a certain amount of time, energy, and other resources, and he expects us to be a good steward with what we have received. We know we ought to go and make a return for the kingdom with our time, treasure and talents, and so the thought of using that time on something that might feel frivolous may stir up guilt in our hearts.

What we also tend to forget is that our God is not a harsh taskmaster bent on efficiency. Instead, God is supremely generous. James puts it this way: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) Our God is a good Father; He generously gives to us (including gifts to enjoy like hobbies) in order that we would enjoy them and receive our gifts with thanksgiving.

A quote from Joe Rigney that I have found to be helpful on this topic is this: “Our calling is to enjoy God in everything and everything in God, while knowing deep in our bones that Jesus is better than every earthly good.” (Strangely Bright, 17)

Here are just a few suggestions from me to you as you seek to do your hobbies to the glory of God:

1. Choose a hobby you enjoy

One of my favorite hobbies is gardening. As I write this, my wife and I are transitioning dozens of little, fragile seedlings from the controlled environment of our basement to the untamed nature of our garden. It’s something we are doing with anticipation and trepidation. Every step in the process from planting the seed to our eventual harvest is an opportunity to receive the miracle of life from the hand of God. It’s easy for me to be thankful for the hobby of gardening, but if the idea of getting your hands dirty makes you cringe, it might not be for you. The point is not the hobby itself, but the heart posture of receiving it with thanksgiving.

2. Look for the Lord in it

Regardless of what your hobby is, continually look for opportunities to see God in it and to practice it in His presence. This is something that may not come naturally to you, but seeing God in everyday life is a skill we can hone. For example, as I garden I see the Lord in the way that He takes seeds that are seemingly lifeless and causes them to grow. I can be pretty scientific in the way that I ensure that my seeds are in just the right seed starting mix, sit under grow lights for just the right amount of time, and get just enough water. Yet, as trained as I am in the art and science of seed starting, some seeds grow and others never sprout. The reason why is a total mystery to me, all of the seeds look alike to the human eye. Yet, whether the seeds sprout or remain lifeless under the soil, I have an opportunity to see God as the one who ultimately brings life. It provides an opportunity for me to slow down in the morning as I tend to the daily chores and enjoy God’s presence as I observe His creation.

If you desire to see the Lord in your hobbies, here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:

• What does this hobby reveal about God’s character?

• How can I enjoy this hobby with Him, recognizing God’s presence with me?

• How have I been freed by the gospel to enjoy this hobby as a gift from the Lord’s hand?

• What about this hobby stirs up thanksgiving in my heart?

3. Hold it with an open hand

This might have been my biggest takeaway from the book Strangely Bright. The truth is that each of our hobbies is a gift of grace, a privilege for us to enjoy for a time, not something that we are entitled to enjoy without boundaries or limitations. Here’s an example: If a hobby would lead you to consistently miss the essential gatherings of your local church, it may be a time for you to lay down that hobby in obedience to the Lord. In a similar way, hobbies can be seasonal. Parents of young children or adults juggling multiple jobs simply won’t have the same capacity to take on all of the hobbies they might want. Hobbies are a wonderful part of the Christian life, and they function best when they are rightly prioritized. Not every hobby is for every season, so it’s worth considering what the Lord has given you the capacity to pursue right now, where you are. It is good and right for us to desire to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil,” and showing up for a life-giving hobby can be a better alternative for using our time than mindlessly consuming content from a screen.

Finally, remember that you have been freed from the foolish use of our time to a God-honoring use of your time. You don’t need to feel guilty for enjoying a cozy mystery, baking an intricately designed loaf of sourdough, or putting the finishing touches on your oil painting. God might just be using your efforts in mastering that craft to bring you greater joy in Him. Christian, like Rigney says, you are free to “enjoy God in everything and everything in God.”