We have all had dreams and peculiar interests in our life that fell by the wayside.It isn’t important to analyze why you had one interest and I had another.If God intended a peculiar interest as a gift of ambitious desire and embedded us with the motivation to pursue it we should do so.That interest could be the ministry God intended us to have all along.It may be the ability to preach a sermon like Billy Graham or making coats and garments and other works of mercy like Dorcas, whom Peter raised back to life (Acts 9: 40).
Most folks today who run day care centers probably started out in baby-sitting.Someone who enjoys caring for other people may find a career in nursing or some type of customer service.Arts and crafts can certainly lead to bigger and better things, just ask Martha Stewart.Some people enjoy bird watching, cooking, poetry, scholarly pursuits, or playing musical instruments.Other people are less interested in what they do than who they do it with, for example family-owned businesses where parents and children work together.The activity isn’t as important as whether we are driven to pursue it by an intangible inspiration from God.
Some Guidelines
Here are some questions to consider in determining whether our ambitions and pursuits fall within the boundaries of Godly purpose:
- Does our pursuit lift someone else up?
We all have to take care of personal needs but if our purposes are primarily self-indulgent we have no reason to expect extraordinary blessing from God.
- Is it reasonable?
I would like to play point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and lead them to an NBA championship.But I am too old, too slow, can’t shoot or pass the ball very well and lack every other skill necessary to be successful.It is not a reasonable ambition.
- Is the objective worthy or simply perishable?
Working extra hours to put a child through college so they can pursue their dreams is a worthwhile ambition.Working extra hours to buy a fancy car or take a gambling vacation to Las Vegas is not so worthwhile.
- If it requires an investment, is it worth the risk if we lose everything?
We may have to invest time, money, our hopes and dreams, or all of these.If we love what we’re doing it won’t matter as much if we lose it all, and nothing is wasted if it is in service to God.
- How long will it take?Do we have the resources?
Long-term ambitions may take years to achieve and there may be different levels of success along the way.This should not discourage us from pursuing an ambition.Instead, we should enjoy the process along the way of achieving it.Getting there is more than half of the fun.
- Does it hold any virtue?Does it bring glory to God?
In a nutshell, our primary purpose in life is to bring glory to God and serve as a witness to lead others to faith in Jesus Christ.Everything else is window dressing.
- Does it fall in the category of spiritual gifts?
In discussing spiritual gifts the Apostle Paul wrote “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Cor 12: 8 – 10). There is nothing to suggest this list of gifts is all-inclusive therefore it is fair to assume there are others not mentioned.Each of us has gifts and our ambition to find them will probably be nothing more than a rediscovery of purpose that has been lying latent in us all along.
Rick Byland is the author of “No Fear:Moving Mountains and Slaying Dragons” by Strang Communications.He is a retired Lieutenant Commander (USNR) and a business owner in Southern California .
- Article length is 694 words.Bible quotations are NKJV.
- This article is original material and is not a reprint.
