Should All Be Sacrificed For Charity?

[scameter18]

The Catholic Church has a long tradition of charity - both compassion and generosity. So many Catholics throughout history have given up everything to spend every moment trying to help the needy, while of course giving God preeminence. While considering this, a glaring question came to my mind, one which I have dwelled on before.

Is it wrong to do things simply for enjoyment, entertainment or fun, especially if that pursuit involves spending money? Is it wrong to use money, time or resources for something enjoyable or expressive, when we could use them to help the needy or give to the Church or work for God in some other way?

For example, I am far from rich. I live with my father and his mother, and only she is able to work. Me and my father have several disorders which we’re trying to overcome. We barely manage to get by. But we do find the money to occasionally spend on things we enjoy, such as a video game, fictional novel or sports, and the time to use them. We give about $2 every week to the Church because we have no more to spare - except what we use for our hobbies. Neither me or my father - the only Catholics in our family - do charity work beyond that small Church donation. I’m trying to become a writer, including nonfiction for apologetics, but that doesn’t occupy all my time. Both of us spend a large part of our days with hobbies, both together and separately.

What is the moral thing? How much should be sacrificed for charity, and are essentially-useless hobbies even moral?

 

[ohioszo]

Not wrong. Holiness requires generosity.

 

[JRKH]

To be Honest, I do not think that we can give you a clear answer on this. Too many factors are involved. This is best discussed in private and in person with your confessor.

Peace
James

 

[scameter18]

With the example I gave, yes it is a bit personal. Unfortunately I can’t edit my original post, so I’ll make a simplified question here:

Is it wrong to pursue activities and hobbies purely for fun, if one’s time and money could be used for charitable purposes? Also, is it better to pursue apologetics and evangelization, or charity, or a mixture?

 

[baltobetsy]

Is it wrong to pursue activities and hobbies purely for fun, if one’s time and money could be used for charitable purposes?

It’s a matter of putting priorities in order. First, you take care of your obligatons, and that does include the support of the church and other charities. After that, whatever is left may be used as for your hobbies, etc. It would not be right to take care of such nonessentials first and then give to God whatever might be left over.

Also, is it better to pursue apologetics and evangelization, or charity, or a mixture?

If by “pursue,” you mean your personal activities, that would depend upon your talents. If you mean how you should divide your financial contribution, that is pretty much up to your own prayerful discernment.

 

[kbwall]

How do you determine how much to donate though?

 

[JRKH]

With the example I gave, yes it is a bit personal. Unfortunately I can’t edit my original post, so I’ll make a simplified question here:

Is it wrong to pursue activities and hobbies purely for fun, if one’s time and money could be used for charitable purposes? Also, is it better to pursue apologetics and evangelization, or charity, or a mixture?

Your questions simply do not have any clear cut answers.
I cannot even answer your first question - “Is it wrong…”, for it would depend on the hobbie and what sort of “fun” you get out of it.
I believe you mentioned video games in your OP. What sort of video games? Are they violent? Is the “fun” derived from “blowing things up” and “killing”, even if virtually. Personally I find such things to be wrong. Others have a different view…

To answer you second question about what to pursue, Love, and charity must come first. Paul tells us that it is Love that is the greatest of the virtues. Therefore Charity must shine through in all that we do. Our very lives must be the reflection of Christ’s Love through us into the world.
A life lived in Love and Charity IS evangelization and evangelization without Love and Charity is no evangelization at all…
As to precisely how God intends for you to use the gifts He has given you, we cannot know. Once again I suggest prayerful reflection along with the guidance of a good priest.

Peace
James

 

[promethius]

I will throw in a slightly opposing viewpoint here though: it is important to foster relationships and grow them in our faith as well. If a hobby is healthy (morally and physically) and serves to grow the love and bond between you and your father, or more importantly between you and your family, then I would say that this is certainly not a bad thing to spend some money on.

But such hobbies must be balanced against the need for us to do charity. Have you thought that some of your hobby time might be spent going to a local convalescent hospital and spreading some Christian love? Charity work takes SO many different forms, and there must be one that can ALSO serve to increase the bond between you and members of your family.

There is no simple answer to your question. We are called to give what we can, provided we can sustain our families and our own livelihood, but sustainment of a family means more than just a place to put your head down and a little food on the table as well. As one other person said, this is really a good question to sit and discuss in detail with your priest.

 

[Trishie]

I do know that the Church answers your question regarding recreation when speaking of Sunday rest

vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

Catholic Social Teaching

“• In keeping with its defense of human dignity, CST repeatedly comes to the aid of working people (even as it details their just obligations to their employers), demanding a “just wage” for workers, time off to allow for recreation and family life, and other basic rights. A just economic and political order seeks the common good of all citizens and deplores a system that reduces workers to mere economic cogs in a relentless machinery of production and profit.”

vocation-network.org/articles/show/233

 

[scameter18]

Thank you all for your very helpful answers. It seems that while not belonging to an “official” charity is not a sin, it is good and apart of being Christian to do so - particularly to use our individual talents and abilities in the best service of God and humanity that we can. This can obviously take many forms, but charity is necessary and good for all. As James said, works is the proof of our faith. If we truly have faith, charity will follow - without this charity, our faith is dead. Still there, but dead, and “God is not a God of the dead, but of the living”. Further, recreation, hobbies, fun and “time off” is not a sin but a requirement and an intrinsic part of being human, when it is done for the betterment of the person and others, and without neglecting other activities. As several suggested here, I will continue praying about it, and will also try to secure a time to speak to my priest about it. I am afflicted with certain problems that hinder my social skills, so I think a “personalized” charity plan would help me. Again I deeply appreciate the help everyone here gave me. God bless.

 

[paulinx]

Is it wrong to pursue activities and hobbies purely for fun, if one’s time and money could be used for charitable purposes?

I think as long as you are, according to your means, spending a significant amount of time and money for charitable purposes, there’s no sin.

Also, is it better to pursue apologetics and evangelization, or charity, or a mixture?

If you feel more called to do one or the other or even if simply you enjoy one more than the other, do it or in whatever mixture you like. There’s no sin here.