Welcome back to the podcast.

Well, is the hobby of watercolor painting, a wartime waste of time and money?

That's the question today from a listener named Amy, Pastor John, hello to you and thank

you for your ministry over these many years, you rights.

I have benefited greatly from it.

Your seashells message was especially profound to me.

Yes.

One of the classic John Piper sermons, which is titled boasting only in the cross.

And preached on May 20, 2000.

But that sermon left me with a lingering question I've never resolved.

Would you consider all hobbies like seashell collecting a waste of life?

I ask because I recently took up watercolor painting.

I keep asking myself, does this glorify God and to what purpose does this further his

kingdom?

I'm not sure it does.

Painting is a relaxing stress reliever for me and I've enjoyed using it to make homemade

cards for people, but it seems it's mostly for my benefit and my enjoyment.

You clearly have a category for hobbies when Tonya recently asked you to name your favorite

hobbies.

You said, scrabble with Noelle and making your yard look perfect, 2000, APJ 1882.

So what guidelines can you offer us wartime Christians to discern when hobbies are

God glorifying and when they become life wasting?

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