All a man's ways seem innocent to him,but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Proverbs 16:2
"I want to do something big with my life." I recently had a student tell me this after a Wednesday Night. My heart wanted to leap for joy and with fear at the same time. How she answered the next question I was going to ask was going to determine which of the two it could be.
"Why?" I asked.
"What do you mean," she replied.
"Why do you want to do something with your life?" I didn't think I was asking too complicated of a question.
She almost looked offended. How do I handle this conflict
"Because, God has given me so much... he's given me life and I want to do something meaningful with this life."
Heart, you may leap for joy!
Heart, you may leap for joy!
There is something in each of us that yearns to be connected with greatness or significance. There's something in us that pushes us toward wanting our life to have meaning. I'm convinced this is placed in us by God. I also believe he has allowed us some freedom to choose how we are going to seek to fill that desire for significance.
The Pharisees got it wrong. In Matthew 23, Jesus tore them apart for the way the were pursuing significance...
The Pharisees were seeking significance by making a name for themselves. They loved to be noticed. Jesus goes on to explain the emptiness of this lifestyle when we truly submit ourselves to the Lordship of the Almighty.
So, first thought as we go down this road...
Why?
Why am I pursuing significance?
What is my motive?
I've become convinced that if my motive is to be significant; I may find it for a season. If my motive is to be a part of something significant, I find myself a part of something long-lasting, whether I'm recognized for it or not.
The Pharisees got it wrong. In Matthew 23, Jesus tore them apart for the way the were pursuing significance...
5"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'
The Pharisees were seeking significance by making a name for themselves. They loved to be noticed. Jesus goes on to explain the emptiness of this lifestyle when we truly submit ourselves to the Lordship of the Almighty.
8"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[b] 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
So, first thought as we go down this road...
Why?
Why am I pursuing significance?
What is my motive?
I've become convinced that if my motive is to be significant; I may find it for a season. If my motive is to be a part of something significant, I find myself a part of something long-lasting, whether I'm recognized for it or not.
3 comments:
Thanks, Derry. We just posted the Luke 14:11 on our blogspot yesterday. This is our memory verse for the week. God is doing a work in this area of our lives right now. How hard it is not to defend yourself in front of those who judge you. Crystal
"I'm convinced this (yearning for greatness/significance) is placed in us by God."
What convinces you of this? Or that it is God who places it in us? Also, if we are supposed to look to be a part of something that is significant and not just be significant ourselves, are we really fulfilling that yearning to be significant? Are we not instead denying that part of ourselves? Should we deny something God placed in us?
Sorry Andrew, poor clarity on this post.
What I meant to say is there is a yearning to be connected to significance/greatness in us all. It is up to us to decide if we want to translate that into us being significant or if we want to be connected to something significant.
I will likely do some editing to reword the post to reflect this thought better.
As far as what convinces me of this, and that it is from God... I will try to tackle this thought in posts to come.
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