What Is Your Goal?
Aug 1st, 2006 by admin
Linda Ham, who is on staff with me at Wellspring, just completed her first marathon this past weekend, the SF Marathon (congratulations Linda!). As I was talking to her, she noted how for many, running a marathon could be the goal of one’s life. Sad to say, such a goal while at one level is admirable, at another level is not admirable enough. For example, a 43-year old man who was ‘fit as a fiddle,’ died after passing the 24 mile mark. I am sure this man had no idea such a thing had happened. Suddenly, completing a marathon for this man isn’t as important as it was even one day ago. I am thankful that Linda has an eternal perspective that sees running a marathon is great, but running the marathon of a life in faith for the reward of Christ (Philippians 3:10-12) is far greater.
I am not saying that running a marathon is in any way a bad goal to have. But I am saying that when our life’s goals solely consist of such things, and we lose sight of eternal goals, then these earthly goals become empty especially as they are weighed against eternity.
What is your goal? Does it make any difference not just in this world but in eternity? Does your goal have eternal value? I have been asking myself these questions and it definitely gives me perspective. I want to make a difference in the lives of people while I have life and breath. Before Brian’s death, Fantasy Baseball was important to me. I really wanted to win my league. I wanted to listen to sports radio to see how the Giants were doing (I don’t even like the Giants). There is nothing wrong with doing either of these two things. But they should not consume me. They should not be goals that I aspire to gain for myself as if eternity depended on it. And whether I liked it or not, such things could easily be a form of worship of the creature rather than the Creator.
Brian has taught me once again that I must make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). I only have this life to live and I want to be a blessing to others, to serve others, and to lead others to know the joy I have in Jesus. Thanks Brian for teaching me about the power and love of the Gospel.
What is your goal?
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Sam, you ask a simple question that can be exceedingly difficult to answer. I have been thinking about this in relation to your exhortations at Wellspring this past Sunday. A verse I thought of for evaluating goals is 1Cor 10:31 - whether I eat or drink to do all to the glory of God. Obvious sinful activity would not meet the 1Cor 10:31 or Ephesians 5:16 screen. But what about stuff that doesn’t seem to be sin? Like Fantasy Baseball, to use your example?
Hmmm … processing … could I play Fantasy Baseball to the glory of God … would playing be “redeeming the time” … processing …
… man, these questions don’t get any easier …
I take TV fasts from time to time and find them profitable.
What you have been saying and writing has really got me to thinking. A few years ago I realized that reading science fiction was futile for me. I was reading a scifi paperback in O’hare and asked myself why I was reading such drivel and left the book there in the lounge; that was it. About two months ago I came to the same conclusion while reading another genre. Were these sinful? I don’t think so. Were they the best things for me to be spending my time on? Nope.
You have me wondering about some of these uses of “discretionary time” …
No, I leave Saturday morning.