Thursday, 09 December 2010
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Is It Wrong to Want a Purposeful Life?
I wrote a post a week ago on how I am afraid to die before accomplishing my goals.I get this general response from other Christians all the time along the lines of not holding on to worldly accomplishments and success, and what have you. I have a few issues with this argument.
One being the fact that I want to do something with my life. Is that so bad? I want to graduate college, I want to write novels, I want to do a ton of things. Since when did it become so bad to want a purpose in life? Am I supposed to be some mindless drone waiting for God to take me to the next step? I thought I was supposed, with the help of God, go through life? Which is what I want to do. I know I couldn't have done anything without Him. And I don't plan to do what I want to do in the future without Him.
It is just sometime I feel like my Christians mentors are telling me to forget about having a purpose in life. Just because what I want to do might lead to success, might lead to fame, doesn't mean that I want that more than eternal life with Him, it just means that while I am here, with the help of Him, I want to be able to accomplish my goals. Or at least try.
Another thing is -- and I'm not saying that all Christians are like this, just pretty much all the ones I go to church with -- most of these people are mega rich. Owners of companies, Senators, Lawyers, doctors, and they have gigantic mansions and million-dollar cars. What's that about?
How can you tell me that its not about worldly accomplishments all the while you are sitting in church with your expensive cars in the parking lot, decked out in whatever name-brand clothing? Even the pastor preaches this while his shiny gold Rolex flashes to the audience.
So why is it wrong for me to say that I am afraid of dying before accomplishing some good-natured goals? It has nothing to do with success -- it's just something I want to do if I can while I am on this Earth. It doesn't mean I put that above Him, I just pray that He will help me along the way if that's what I am meant to do.
And yes, it will make me a little sad if I were on my death bed before I got to do something -- then I would feel like I was just here for nothing. Then I would feel like: well what was the point in me being such a person that God made me, having all these goals in my head and the intelligence to do them if I were just going to die anyway.
What constitutes a purposeful life for you? Do you feel that you have a purpose in life?
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- From: Daniella_Aalyiah_Li@xanga
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Comments (14)
Just enjoy the things that God has given you. Enjoy life. If your goals are Godly and you pursue them, then that will fulfill your purpose, to use what God blessed you with and to appreciate your savior.
It's good that you choose not to put these plans above God. These earthly treasures are not sins in themselves. Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not we actually follow God's will because our own desires may not be what God wants.
"It is just sometime I feel like my Christians mentors are telling me to forget about having a purpose in life."
It might appear that way, but it would be a bad idea not to plan ahead. Relying on God does not mean laziness. We still have an active role in our lives, but we must be willing to give up what we want for what God wills.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."Matthew 6:33
"And yes, it will make me a little sad if I were on my death bed before I got to do something -- then I would feel like I was just here for nothing. Then I would feel like: well what was the point in me being such a person that God made me, having all these goals in my head and the intelligence to do them if I were just going to die anyway."
Most people realize that what brings them the most happiness is the relationships they have. It's the people that you love that will make you happiest. King Solomon had everything he wanted (money, wives, fame, wisdom, power, etc), and these worldly things were given to him by God. But they did not give Solomon happiness.
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
"Matthew 6:20
Even after we die, our relationship with God through Christ is the greatest thing about going to heaven, not immortality or the fact that we no longer suffer.
So, I'd say, pursue whatever plans you make, so long as you are willing to give them up to God if He asks for something different. Knowing Christ personally will change your own desires though; eventually, what you want is really what God wants, not because we are drones, but because we learn to love Christ.
People who say you don't need a purpose are listening to the wrong source for inspiration. We have a divine purpose. We are spirit children of the Living God, our Heavenly Father, and He has said that we can grow up to be like Him. Any goal you pursue that builds Godly character and brings you closer to Jesus is a good goal. Anything that doesn't is probably just a distraction from the adversary or the world. Seeking the promptings of the Holy Spirit while choosing your goals is a good way to start.
I didn't see your original post, and I'm not a regular reader of revelife.By way of introduction, I am catholic, and I identify with catholicism. However, I supposed don't live the kind of life that "right-wing" Christians would approve of. Nonetheless, I know I would have gotten along just fine with Jesus -- and he wouldn't have judged me harshly -- had I lived in his time. .
That said, it sounds like you're talking to a bunch of hypocrites. Just because Jesus reached out to the poor and troubled doesn't mean He wants you to be poor and/or troubled! How silly...You should be the best person you can be -- in every way: education, career, achievements! When you get "there" you will be able to to give back, instead of take. Money is the great enabler of change and of charity. Don't be ashamed of wanting to be successful!
So...to answer your question, I have been a successful Wall Street Economist, a mother, and now an art therapist (for almost 0 money) helping those with HIV/AIDs. I have reached many of the goals I have set out for myself, including being financially secure. I'm not ashamed of my successes -- it took hard work and now makes me better able to help those in need and makes me proud of using the gifts I was born with wisely! How is it that being unsuccessful and/or uneducated would have made me a better person in God's eys?
i think that, if God was interested in His believers being completely focused on Him with no thought at all for what we might want for her own lives, He would have marketed Himself to dogs.
@Azn_Shenobi - We can learn to love Big Brother too.
The problem isn't in wanting a purpose. The problem is in what we see as our purpose as humans. Our chief purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
"As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." - Ecclesiastes 5:16-20
Hopefully that helps. =D
Certainly, God comes first. But God gave you the desire and the motivation to want to educate yourself, to understand many things more clearly, to put your mind and body to work for good. It's completely apparent in what you said that God always comes first. I believe you have in you the power to do many good things but we must always be watchful because even though our intentions are pure there are those who would take advantage of our goodness and use it for their own purposes. This being said, may God help you in your endeavors, bless you and help you to succeed in your personal and spiritual cultivation.
I think the difference comes in means and ends; in motivations
I'll use my own goals as an example.
I want to win the Honorary Nobel Prize in Economics. If I want to win this prize because of the affluence it carries, that's idolatry. However, if I want to win it because I want to fully utilize the gifts God has given me and that's a decent metric for doing so, it's God-honoring. Furthermore, if I die before completing my goals, then se la vi, but I'm not afraid of that; so long as I'm on the path towards my goals when I die then I'll count it as a success.
Do you want to write novels to become famous, or do you want to write novels because you want to utilize the gifts God has blessed you with? If you were to die midway through your first novel and never finish it, would you be angry with God for taking you before you could complete your goals?
Check the terminology you use and have a conversation with one of your Christian mentors about your motivations for wanting to do these things. Are your goals there to glorify you or God?
Live every day as if it were your last. Afterall, you're in charge of your own life and if you feel somebody is trying to control it, you have to just remind yourself that you have enough power to resist it.
I hope that made sense, it made a lot more sense in my head.
Sometimes I feel selfish for spending time 'self improving' (therapy/exercising, and such) but then I realise the 'better' I am the better I am able to take care of others and spend my time here on this beautiful earth!
Marilyn
You have God given gifts and talents that have yet to be exposed. All your experiences will take you closer to your purpose, but it is not wrong to seek this. These gifts were given to you to share with the world. Work at uncovering these, discover things you are passionate about and want to be involved in, and look to see how you can apply your strengths and gifts. You will feel much more fulfilled when you are working towards a life with purpose.
Yes, enjoy the gifts from God, but use them - I believe that God wants everyone to be fulfilled in life, which in itself is a gift. Share what you know, have goals and go for them.
I believe that my gifts and mission are to empower and re-inspire people to create a fufillling life they love by finding ways to get closer to their life purpose.
www.karengirard.ca
God WANTS us to become the best that we can be. That does not always translate into what "man" considers success, but success doesn't always measure accomplishment. As long as you become the best that you can be as a child of God you will have accomplishments that you never even imagined were possible. Why? Because when we strive to be better for God, he puts his SUPER on our NATURAL. When that happens there is nothing that you can't do. Forget fame and success. Be YOUR best as God's child. Study the great Christians in the Bible and those in more recent history. I think of David, Ruth, Moses, Joshua, Paul, Timothy, George Muller, Brother Andrew, Hudson Taylor, Corey Ten Boom, D.L. Moody, and many others. We can learn a lot about being a better Christian and about their struggles as a great Christian. I would not consider all of the great Christians as "successful" and yet they all had many great accomplishments for God's glory...