Life Lessons #3

What stirs your affections for Christ?

What robs your affections for Christ?

I have never really had a lot of hobbies.  I dabbled with the old cars a little bit just to have something to with my dad when he was alive.  I have thought about doing that again with Justin, but there is just no desire there except to spend some time with him.  I played a little golf, but never like everyday.  My idolatry extended to my career success and my personal glory, but hobbies were never a big deal.  Competition can be an idol because I DEPLORE LOSING - in the past, did most anything, short of serious cheating, to avoid losing.

The only hobby I fool with at all anymore is fantasy baseball.  I know. I know.  Sounds stupid, but I have always loved baseball statistics.  When I was five years old, I knew the batting averages of all of the Cardinals, and honestly a lot of all of baseball.  So, when the world of fantasy baseball started where all of the competition is based on player stats, I really enjoyed it - really fun. Yeah, I know, NERD!  But, this is one of those morally neutral items that does not appear to have any inherent sin traits.  I mean if I go out on the street and buy heroin and shoot up, that is clearly not morally neutral.  If I cheat on my wife, that is not morally neutral.

I had never competed and won a fantasy baseball league where the players were really serious.  But last summer, I found myself with a good team and a chance to win.  Suddenly, I found myself not just enjoying the hobby, but obsessing over balls and strikes of games that did not even involve the Cardinals.  This was now not morally neutral.  Robbed affection for Jesus.  I wasn't getting high or lusting, but I was lusting, wanted to WIN.  And, I won the league.  I don't know if that was good or bad.  God did not care if I won or lost, so He obviously did not supernaturally move some pitches around so I could have success.  But, he did care how if it got between me and Him, and how I reacted to the win.

Hobbies can actually stir your affections for Christ.  They can rob also.