Purpose

If Only

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Two tiny words that make us question the things that we are doing.

“If only I hadn’t bought those clothes, I’d have money to make the needed car repair.” 

“If only I could grow  a little taller, I’d be such a better athlete.”

We use these words to not only bring into question our lives, but how others impact us. 

“If only my boss was nicer, my job would be so much easier.”

“If only everyone else could drive better, the freeways would be more pleasant.”

If only. 

Sometimes, we apply this same mindset to God. 

If only God would change this circumstance, I would trust Him more.

If only He would give me what I want, then I would serve Him. 

If only. 

The problem with our “if only’s” is that they are usually focused on the here and now, when Scripture demonstrates that our focus should be increasingly on the then and there. In other words, we are concerned with the momentary trials and inconveniences, when we should be concerned with what is at stake for eternity.

Paul had this mindset. His concerned wasn’t that God would save him from all of life’s difficulties, but that he would glorify God within them. As he said in Acts 20:24:

“But  do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”  [emphasis added.]

His concerned wasn’t with what this life did to him, but how he used this life to do what God had called him to do.

If only our mindset was the same. 

 

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Purpose

Reaching

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Months ago, as I was trying to grab something out of the pantry, I suddenly heard a loud crash. On the ground, in tiny little pieces, laid the results of the glass jar that I had broken. So intently was I focused on what I was after that I neglected to see the jar that was in my path. As I reached for what I wanted, I hit it and sent it barreling to the ground. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men wouldn’t have been able to put it back together again.

I find that what happened in the pantry that day sometimes happens in life too. Focused on what I want, I neglect to see what God has placed right in front of me. I reach for my desires, not seeing the good thing that He has placed in my path. I strain for my goals, my priorities, and my “needs,” running the risk of shattering what He has given me to do. I’m reaching for what I want, instead of reaching for Him.

It’s a dangerous undertaking. The glass jar became unusable, and if I am focused on “me,” I run the risk of not being used for His purposes. If I am concerned with what is important to me, I’m not concerned with what is important to Him. If I’m reaching for something so as to establish my little kingdom, than I’m not busy about doing the work of building His.

This doesn’t mean that we don’t have ambitions – that we are ambivalent about the course of our lives. It does mean, however, that our ambition needs to display God’s glory. Our goals need to be His desires for us. We should be reaching for Him, time and time again, and our satisfaction should be found in grabbing hold of what He has given. 

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