You’re all wondering why I’m not posting. One of these days I’ll find the time and inspiration to finish the article that’s 99% done. It says so much of what I want to say on this subject. In the meantime, read this comment on my last post.
Friends: self-sacrifice. is. heroism.
Watching someone care for a loved one who’s either unresponsive or almost entirely gone is one of the most amazingly heroic things you can witness. To save someone from a fire takes a matter of minutes, but to stay by someone’s side can take years, even a lifetime.
My dad’s only forty-seven, but he was diagnosed with a fatal, degenerative, brain disorder a couple years ago. Due to personality changes, he no longer acts like the man my mom married, sometimes he even says cruel things, but she’s still supportive and strong; taking care of him as much has he’ll allow her to and holding the rest of our family together through this crisis. She doesn’t know anyone sees, but I see, and I admire her ever day for her strength and faith.
Gideon and his army of 32,000 men are preparing for battle, a battle where the odds against them are so great that Gideon himself had been uncertain about God’s direction. He had checked and double-checked with God, yet the command was still the same, clear and unmistakable. He was to go forwards. God was going to save them.
As one of the most thrilling days in history starts to unfold, God begins one of the most mind-boggling military preparations that man has ever witnessed. He turns to Gideon and says, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’”
22,000 men went home.
Did God realize how many scaredy-cats he had? Surely he didn’t think that so many men would go home. They were now facing an army thousands of times their size. Surely God would call some of them back. Cutting 22,0000 men… leaving only 10,000 men… there had to be a mistake. But God doesn’t think so, in fact, he speaks again, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
God chose 300 men.
Three hundred men… three hundred men that were ready to do God’s command. Ready to fight a battle with an army which—as the scriptures say so vividly—was as thick as locusts, and that had so many camels (to carry away the plunder) that they could be counted no more easily than the sand on the seashore.
Three hundred men… that were not afraid.
They Were Not Afraid
Why not? They had every human reason to be afraid, and yet, nobody was muttering under their breath about this fantastic suicide mission. God had chosen for himself 300 men, 300 men of valor, 300 men of faith, 300 men that could not win the battle, 300 men through whom he would demonstrate his grace.
They were not afraid, because God was with them. They were not afraid, because God had chosen them. They were not afraid, because God had instructed them. They were not afraid, because God had sent them.
They were not afraid, because they had faith.
There are many more stories, many more examples, many more days when faith had victory over fear. Sometimes it was more amazing than this. There is Daniel. Then there are Daniel’s three friends. Their example is one of the most thrilling, one of the most powerful, one of the most inspiring. Three men, in the prime of life, three men against a whole nation, three men who lived when they should have died.
It was a day to be remembered forever. A day when three men stood, when three men refused to bow to an idol built in defiance to the God of Heaven and Earth, when three men defied the king.
A day, when 3 men were not afraid.
Why not? Why weren’t they afraid? Why wasn’t Joseph? Or Abraham? Or Moses? Or Paul? Or David?
Or… you?
Yes! You! Why did you jump? Why do you feel uncomfortable in a hero’s shoes? Friends, this is the focus of this article. Do you believe God? Are you ready to do his command? Are you ready to be chosen for a dangerous mission? Are you ready to stand when others run? Are you willing to—in the words of Jim Elliot—“give up what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose?” Or are you going to leave that for somebody else? Somebody else? Like who? Who?
Like Who?
Who would have stood in the place of Daniel? Who would have stood in the place of David? Who would have stood in the place of Moses? Who would have stood in the place of Joseph?
Who will stand in your place?
Nobody. Your potential, will be lost potential—because you were afraid. You were afraid, because you would not believe God. You were afraid because you would not obey God. You were afraid, because you did not know God. You were afraid to die, because you were afraid to live.
You Can
You don’t have to be afraid. No! You can be fearless! You can be faithful. You can stand when other men run. You can be an incredible tool in God’s hands. God can do with you far more than you ever dreamt of doing yourself. But what does it take?
It takes surrender. Yes, it takes surrender. It takes giving up your own strength. It takes your life. Your life! God wants it! Every bit of it! Every shard, every scrap, every ounce. He wants to give you His strength for your weakness. He wants to give you heroism for your helplessness. He wants to give you fearlessness for your fearfulness.
Give it up.
This is the first article in a 3-part series on Godly Manhood and Womanhood. In part 3 we will discuss the practical application of fearlessness and faithfulness to the life of both men and women. But before that, we’re going to talk about two more aspects of godly character: compassion and justice. Keep checking back for the rest of this series.
A few months ago, a reader of Oneway Purpose asked me this question.
Where is the Biblical basis for this? I get that men should fight against injustice and the such, but where is a list of masculine vs. feminine traits in scripture? Why does the man have to be the hero? Is it just physical strength that demands a man act or is there something more that drives these character traits? Furthermore, what if they are reversed (i.e. Can a Christian male be a “metro-sexual” and/or a Christian female be a “tomboy”).
This question was in response to my post “Of Giants and Grasshoppers” which, just to note it here before you do, has some embarrassing historical errors, it also did not address some very fundamental principles which I hope to make clear in the following series.
In this series, I am not going to be giving the readers of Oneway Purpose a direct answer to this question. Instead I will focus on the Biblical principles of character that will guide us to a fuller understanding of Biblical Manhood. In the end you will be the one who answers these questions for yourself. This series will concentrate on providing you with the means to find a Biblical resolution.
Why shouldn’t men be afraid? What does it mean to be a man of valor? What does it mean to be strong and not afraid? What does it take to be fearless? In the first article of a 3-part series, we discover what it takes. Everything.
2: Compassion and Justice
Contrary to what you might have heard, big muscles don’t make you a man. So what does define Godly Manhood in the scriptures? What does God require from men and women devoted to him? Is it tough guys with a shiny sword? Pretty girls with long dresses?
3: To Be A Hero(ine) in 2007
What does it take to be a hero? Fearlessness, Compassion, and Justice. What does it take to be a heroine? Fearlessness, Compassion, and Justice. What’s the difference between a hero and heroine? In applying the same 3 biblical standards of character to men and women alike, we discover the answer our questions. Why should men protect women and children? Why should a woman protect her children? Why should the strong protect the weak? Why should men be the first to stand in the line of fire?
All of these articles will be coming out in the next two weeks. Keep checking back. I already have the first post done, so you can expect it up as soon as I can revise and publish it. You can monitor the progress of the other three posts right on the sidebar.
Oh, and where I have I been? Why haven’t I posted sooner? I have a good excuse. Every spare moment was going into getting the Modesty Survey ready for launch – including a couple nights with just a couple hours of sleep. It’s been a great success with over 1 million pageloads since launch. Make sure to check it out if you haven’t already.
First, I owe an explanation for my extended absence. However, I’m not sure if I’m entirely able to do so. Life has been very busy, and my blog hasn’t been a priority. Thus, it has been neglected. I could never bring myself to post an ‘away’ post, because of the almost deathly tone they always have, and I wasn’t giving up blogging. But, nevertheless, I should have enlightened you.
As for now, I can’t promise to blog very frequently. But I’ll start off by posting something new at least once a week, and we’ll work from there. The Lord has laid this blog on my heart as a ministry to place in higher priority than it has been. At the same time he has opened up some time each day for writing. Isn’t God incredible!?
About two months ago, one of my readers asked me for a biblical exposition of real manhood. I told him I’d have it up in a few days, then unexpectedly went traveling for a couple weeks, and quite forgot about it upon my return. (And when I remembered, I was too busy to do anything about it. Don’t you hate that?) So. You can guess what the next post(s) will be about!
There’s one other thing I notice I haven’t done anything about. Doesn’t my “About” page still say ‘More information coming here very soon.’? I think so! I think some of you have realized that very soon can be interpreted more than one way, unfortunately. So, also on my priority list is to satisfy your curiosity as to who I am.
So everybody, keep checking back! (once or twice a week)
3 years ago when I wrote and submitted my first article to a magazine, I had no concept of where it would take me. My first article was almost an accident, but it was one of the best accidents I ever made. My goal wasn’t to be an author, and in fact, writing was not my strong point and definitely not something I wanted to do more of than I had to.
That last couple years have been a growing, stretching and learning experience for me. Most of all, I have grown closer to God. I have grown closer to God because He has taken the time to lead me forwards and onwards. And now, looking back, I realize that God has been doing an awesome work in my life. But, what hurts most is when I discovered that self, yes that great dragon we all are well acquainted with, stands up and says, “Look what I have done.”
Friends, success is not measured by what we have done. It is measured by what God has done. And this is the topic I want to focus on today. I want to share what it is that gives us joy and happiness. I want to show you that we can be just as fulfilled at the first step as we are at the last. I want to show you that your accomplishments are not what measure your success.
Have you succeeded?
Well maybe in 20 years once I’ve reached all my currently set goals I’ll be able to say, “Yes, I’ve succeeded.” Maybe once I get elected as the Prime Minister I’ll be able to say, “I’ve succeeded.” Or… maybe, when it comes to the end of this day, I’ll be able to say, “I’ve succeeded.”
What is it that measures success? Is it the completion of this article I’m working on? Well, in a way I’ll have accomplished this goal and will have succeeded. I will have reached my intended destination. But friends, that’s not the success I refer to. Life is not all about reaching destinations. Life is about walking with God. Success is about walking with God.
A dear sister confided in me one day. She said, “David, I feel so left behind. Everybody is doing so much. People like Alex and Brett, like you, make me feel so… unable.”
And friends, I have my own list of people that make me feel incapable. Oh yes I do, and I fear it stretches much longer than it ought. But I want to tell you right now: that list does not matter. That list is irrelevant. Because it doesn’t measure our success.
The Yardstick
The yardstick of true success isn’t actually a yardstick at all; rather, it’s a heartstick. If you want to know how you are succeeding in life, there’s only one thing to do, examine your heart. See if your hand is in God’s hand, if your heart is trusting Him, if your ears are hearing His voice. And when we do this, we don’t need other people to tell us of our achievements to know that we are succeeding.
But on that note, how can we truthfully say, “I have succeeded”? What have we done that counts to success? When God takes us and leads us, when he calls us and we obey, what counts as success? It’s faith, it’s obedience, it’s believing God! It’s the same faith, the same obedience that God put in our hearts in the first place. Truly, we love him only because He first loved us. Truly, there is nothing that I have done. But yet, I have succeeded. I have succeeded, by grace. Oh, the joy of mercy, the wonder of grace.
The Joy in Success
Friends, there is a glory in success. There is a joy that passes all understanding. When we’re walking with God, He is our joy. We don’t need to pursue anything else for our pleasure. We don’t need to reach any other height for greater exhilaration, we don’t need to climb to any other position where we will be more famous. In this place, friends, with our hand in God’s hand, is where we ought to be. If you’re the president or the plumber, you’ll still have succeeded.
Called out of your Comfort Zone
Recently I wrote the article, “The Best You Have”, and I covered the topic of our efforts, our energy, and how that relates in God’s plan for our success. You may ask me now, “How does giving God the best that I have change my life if all that matters is our walk with God?” I’m pretty sure that question was on somebody’s mind, because it was on mine, but there’s a simple answer. It is God’s will that we give him our best and our all, therefore, in my life this translates directly to a matter of obedience. Friend, if you’re not giving God everything, you’re missing out on so much. If you are, you’re missing out on nothing. When God has our life to work with, our best devoted to His glory, He can do awesome things. Friends, that’s success.
And there’s an incredible exhilaration when God calls us to run with Him. It reminds me of the first time (only time) I went skiing. First, I took a lesson and learned how to ski. Then I spent an hour on the small slope. Then I went for the larger slope. Oh my, oh my, I fell a few times on my first trip down. But finally, on the second trip down the hill, somehow I relaxed. Once I relaxed, the thrill was incredible, and I wasn’t falling down. No. I was racing down, with the wind in my face, my poles at my side, cutting across, cutting back, swooping down into line for the next ride back up.
But what happened? When did I begin enjoying it? When I gave up on my fears, and relaxed. I know it’s a poor illustration. But friends, when we’re ready to give up our fears, when we’re ready to relax and let God take control…
One short moment, one flicker of light, a few short breaths, and we’re gone. Gone into eternity. It’s sobering to realize how much depends on these few moments, how much of the future is suspended on the present, always standing on the edge of time, never knowing when it will stop for us.
Don’t Waste your Life
So many teenagers have no concept of life, of the eternal consequences of their choices. I stand at the window and see so many of my age group entirely desensitized, numbed, unrealizing, and uncaring of their future.
Why? Why? Why do we want to waste our life?... this life which isn’t ours at all. We want to step out and claim we are our own, but God tells us the opposite. He lays his hand on our shoulder and says, “You, you are not your own.” And then he bends down close and looks us straight in the eyes and adds, “You, You! Were bought with a price.” We are His! We are not our own. We cannot do whatever we want.
And yet, in an almost painful sense, we can. He has entrusted us with it all. He does not always stand in our way when we reject his purchase. Satan has sold his lie to the whole world. In the place of Stewards we have become thieves. What hope is there for us then? None, nothing but grace, nothing but faith, faith that God can change us from a thief to a servant, from a sinner to a saint, from old to new. Faith in His crimson blood that can wash us white as snow, faith in His salvation, that salvation which takes us back… as His own.
His own… And now he asks us to serve Him, to be a faithful steward of our lives. And there’s so much that entails. There are so many areas where our stewardship is illustrated. It shows in what we spend our time doing, it shows in how we talk, it shows in how we live, most of all… it shows in where we put our devotion. Ultimately our heart loyalty is shown in every aspect of our life.
Keep thy Heart
Long ago, a wise King of Israel wrote these words, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The first word is loaded with so much meaning. Keep, guard, protect… like the watchman over the city, like the gate keeper over the gate, like a mother over her child, like a soldier over his life. “Guard it!” “Fight for it.” “Do battle!” But never be found asleep with your sword uselessly lying at your side, never, not even for a moment. For at that instant, the enemy shall fall upon you.
Solomon was dead serious, as a king, he knew all about diligent and slothful gatekeepers. He knew about those who did not stand guard like they ought. He also knew about the heroic sentries who devoted all their energies to watching, spying, guarding, protecting his city, his throne. When he said ‘all’ he meant ‘all’, in fact, the Hebrew word is even stronger, ‘the whole, in every sense, in every way’... be diligent.
‘For out of it are the issues of life.’ That one phrase could be the subject of a sermon. Is it possible that our heart devotion, who we serve… can change us, can affect us so completely. Is it possible that what we do, what we are, what we say, what we think, and how we live is dictated by where our heart is?
Indeed! And this is where Satan targets us directly. He wants us to put our heart devotion into anything, anything but God. He would rather see it focused on a movie star, on a car, on fleshly desires, on anything, anywhere, anyone but God. Why? Satan wants your life to be wasted. Don’t kid yourself. He is in a moment-by-moment battle for your devotion, your joy, and your loyalty.
The Other David
A few months ago, my very namesake discovered me. Of the very few David Boskovic’s in the world (As far as I know they all still fit on one hand.) one discovered me online. Oh the stark contrast in our lives, oh how he felt the difference. He blogged about me, writing words that reflected the pain he felt, too vulgar to remember.
We are both teens, both young, both with a life in front of us, but one of us is wasting it. In the depth of drugs, street life, sexual sin, vulgar living, he discovered me, and dumped on me his load of anger. How could another David Boskovic exist other than himself, why did he have to be a religious fanatic… a God worshipper, some type of person who wrote about that Jesus guy. Impossible! I must be out to ruin him. I wrote a short comment in reply, and I pray that God may use me to reach him someday. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday, maybe someday when God has prepared his heart.
Until then, I’ll keep praying.
My Generation
When I see what my generation is doing with their time, it hurts. The same problem has been around forever, but in the last century it has expanded to grand proportions. Life is being wasted, so many lives, wasted on pleasure, wasted in the face of drugs, wasted in a life of self-centered pleasure, worst of all, wasted away from God. I ask why, but then my heart cries out, because I know why. They cry, because they have no idea why, no idea what they’re doing. Some live a life of proud success, but they live it alone, they live it wasted. All find themselves something else to live for, somebody else to serve, but they all waste their life. Others end their life by themselves, in a wasted ruin, because they took life alone. They lived for something else, somebody else. They died the same way they lived… wasted. I search my own life, and I realize how easy it is to waste it. I realize that I must say, “But for the grace of God, go I.”
And it’s that grace of God that we are ultimately given stewardship of. Our ultimate task is to live for God’s glory, by his all-sustaining grace. Our ultimate task is to show others God’s mercy in our life, to show, to tell, to explain that any other way is a waste of life. Any other loyalty is a counterfeit loyalty. Any other pleasure is a forgery. Any other path leads down. Who shall tell them?
‘Of Giants and Grasshoppers’ is a brand-new, indefinitely continuing weekly series right here on Oneway Purpose. Directed mostly at young men, but applicable to almost everybody’s life in one way or another, this series bites into some of the biggest cultural and spiritual issues that face young people today. Too many men are viewing themselves as grasshoppers. Too many men have lost their vision, their honor. I want to do my part in restoring manhood, not only to my own character but to the character of as many men I know. Let’s all do the same.
Giants and Grasshoppers?
Espionage is a dream job for a handful, and a terrifying occupation to the rest. Right now, I want you to put yourself in the place of one of the millions of Israelites and stand ready to hear the report of a small group of men who have just returned from spying out the Promised Land. I’m sure you’re excited. Here is the report: (From Numbers 13, ESV)
“We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this [a large cluster of grapes and fruit the spies had carried back] is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.”
Then Caleb said,
“Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Then the men who had gone up with him said,
“We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”
So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying,
“The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
1 out of 12
I can just picture them there, 12 men start telling about the wonder and beauty of the fruitfulness of the land. And then 11 say ‘but’. But… However… the people in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.
Caleb is standing there realizing that they’re about to launch into a negative campaign against taking over the land, so he interrupts them and says, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”
But the rest of the men countered, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”
For they are Stronger than We
Did you notice the reason they gave for not being able to overcome the land? Did you notice?! Since when was that ever a reason for failure? Since when did the Israelites have that attitude? What had happened? Is it possible that they had fallen into the same trap that we find ourselves in so often?
How many times have we whined, “But that’s impossible! Do you realize how big a job that is?!” Foremost, it lies in our character and our attitude towards danger and responsibility. Guys, listen carefully.
Recently, at a college in Montreal, some psychopath (I refuse to call him a man) male, walked up with a couple weapons and started shooting randomly at people. He started outside the college with one or two shots, wounding at least one person. Than he slowly walked into the building, through the front doors, down the hallway, (at this point police were already following him telling him to drop his gun), and into the cafeteria where he started shooting again for another 10 minutes while police organized themselves to take him. He ended up shooting himself finally, after he had killed one and critically wounded over a dozen.
What angered me most was not the police—it was that all the men ran when they saw him… and left the women to fend for themselves. Of the 19 men in that room, not a single one stayed to help the 14 women, There was not even one single man, one single hero. nobody who stood up to him. If even a few men in that room had tackled him, he would not have had the opportunity to do more than wound a couple people. He was using an automatic rifle, an extremely ineffective weapon at close range. But there were no heroes that day. Not even one.
I had a long time to think about how I would have acted if I was the 1 out of 19 in that situation. Would I have risked my life? As I began thinking about this I realized just why everybody ran, and just why nobody stayed. Everybody was ruled by fear—the same fear we all have.
Ruled by Fear
And so were the other 11 spies. They were afraid, and they gave that reason enough to not be able to conquer. Nobody but Caleb had any faith in God. Nobody was willing to risk themselves in obedience. It was the same story all over again in the Montreal shooting. Nobody was willing to risk their lives. One guy told the reporter, “I was there, and I thought, ‘I don’t want to get shot!’ so I ran for my life.”
Very reasonable decision. I must commend you, very wise. But your life was not the only one in question. If you were only watching out for your own skin, than that would have been just fine. But I’m afraid that today sir, you proved yourself a child.
That would have been entirely our same action, unless we were ruled by something other than fear. Like honor. Like principle. No hero will claim he was not afraid, he just knew had to do his duty.
Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
We Seemed to Ourselves as Grasshoppers
Picture yourself. Now picture a grasshopper. Those are big giants aren’t they?
When we are ruled by fear, everything takes a different proportion. But now, what exactly did they say? “We seemed to ourselves as grasshoppers.” Do you get it? They were viewing themselves with one 1000th of the strength they should have been! Of course they would never be able to take over the land with that attitude!
Unless we as men realize that we are grossly underestimating our abilities and begin to live by a principle of honor that we vow never to break, we will never change this world. It’s a daunting task isn’t it? But like Caleb yesterday, we must face this task like men. In the strength of God, we are well able.
Men Wanted: Yesterday, Today, Forever
It’s time for a revival. Men, my generation, your generation will change this. We will show ourselves worthy of honor. We will be heroes. And if we never get the chance to singlehandedly fight with a gunman, we shall still always be continually ready to risk our life for the safety of another. On the value of our own life, we shall represent God fearing manhood. Daring Manhood.
But this attitude isn’t only about things that are heroic. I don’t want to leave this introduction on a note of surrealism, on the dreamy idealism of ‘being a hero’. Most of us will not have such a drastic opportunity, although we shall be prepared for it. Where we all will prove our ability is in every aspect of life around us. We will prove ourselves when we approach any duty with the attitude of Caleb, “We are well able.”
We will prove ourselves on many giants, all the giants in our life. From each test in school, to each test of character. Every time we feel incapable, every time we meet a giant in our life, let us remember: There are giants. But we are not grasshoppers.
We are well able.
This is only the beginning of this series, stay tuned for more next week!
I sat twirling in an office chair, “So…” I stopped the chair and faced my friend, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”
“I’m going to retire when I’m 30, I hate working.”
“Oh come on,” I prompted, “but what are you going to do… like in the next 15 years?”
“Oh, nothing, review video games or something. Something that I don’t have to work at.”
I couldn’t believe my ears, I was sure he was kidding. That was the answer one of my friends gave me a couple years ago in regards to my question about his life plans. Needless to say, a little discussion ensued about how that was lazy and entirely unmanly, and how I couldn’t imagine anybody wanting to have such a lifestyle.
I know we’re all looking at eachother and shaking our heads like wise sages right now. “That’s so crazy! I mean, who would want to live like that?! (And what kind of girl would want to marry a guy like that?)” Crazy indeed. And of course we keep shaking our heads, slowly, back and forth, back and forth. We are sooooo much wiser.
Relative Success
But do we realize that this attitude is entirely natural to humans? Is it possible that my friend just had an overdose of it at an early age? Is it possible that we’re only better by a degree and not anywhere near what we ought to be? We settle back comfortably, and we work hard, and we’re sure we don’t have an attitude like that. We’re happy being a cut above somebody who wants to get fat, retire at 30, and get fatter. We’re better and we pride ourselves with that knowledge. It helps our self-worth to be better than somebody else.
But what are we gauging our success by? We feel the adrenaline rush as we pass all the cars, we smile as we think of what people will say. “WOW, that guy is fast.” But all that fun feeling of success crashes on us when we realize we were only passing parked cars. We were doing so much better than the rest of them, but were we doing our best?
Your Best: Wasted
Maybe we were, maybe our pedal was to the metal. Maybe we reached the glorious speed that very few ever reach. Or maybe, in real life, we reached the glorious heights of success, the medals, the honors, maybe we became the President of the United States. Maybe we did. Maybe we climbed Mount Everest. And then we reached the highest point. We were the example of success. But for what purpose?
Regardless of how high you climb, how far you go, how much you achieve, you can waste every bit of it. Your work ethic would be an example, you would be quoted, you would be honored. But, it could all be wasted. What makes the difference?
For what Purpose?
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. And yet it is one of the most discomforting books in the Bible. Everything good, everything right, everything we dream about, it is all vanity. Everything we can possibly do or (not do) in this life is listed off as vanity, vanity, and by the end of the book I’m frustrated. “What are we supposed to do then?! If that’s all vanity… why, that’s life! Life isn’t vain!”
But wait. Solomon isn’t saying that our life has to be vanity. In fact, life is far from vain. And He knows it, but there’s one key, one defining factor that makes the difference. In fact, we don’t hear about it until the last verse. And then, all he says is, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear [revere, honor, worship, glorify, etc.] God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecc 12:13 ESV
Is there something so magic in those words? Something that turns life from vanity to a worthwhile effort? There is. It’s where we focus our goals. If we’re living for anything other than God’s glory, if we’re living for any other reason than for His honor, if our goals are set on anything lower than His best… it’s all vanity.
Your Best for God’s Best
My friend seemed to have realized that. I think he read Ecclesiastes and missed the last verse. Maybe his attitude was, “Life is all vanity, so why should I do anything anyways!” But we’re much wiser, we don’t think like that. Or do we? When we think, “I’m good enough, at least I’m better than [name].” or, “Oh come on, why do you have to think I should be perfect?! I’m better than most people, and you still complain that I do things wrong.” We’re actually saying the same thing. We’re complacent creatures, we’re too willing to stay the way we are. But that’s dead wrong. The way we are is not the best we can be. God wants us to step up higher. He calls us to do things better. He doesn’t call us to a life of ease and comfort. He calls us to a life of daring obedience! He wants us to give every bit we have. He wants us to give Him the best.
So many people don’t realize that when we gave our hearts, that meant we gave God everything. It’s incredible that we will catch ourselves thinking, “I gave God my heart, He doesn’t want my energy too does He? God doesn’t want something like that, why, it’s only such a little bit compared to what He has!” Actually, God does want it. Even if it’s only a little bit. Even if you’re confined to a wheelchair, if you’re physically unable to do many things normal people can’t. God wants everything, for after all… God gave us His best. We forget, that God didn’t just love us, He lived out His love. He proved it at the cross when He gave up His only Son to die for me…
When He gave me the Best He had.
Something to discuss:
How can we be sure that in living for the glory and honor of God we do not begin focusing on our own works?
How can we stay humble when we are doing ‘great’ things.
How can we realize that our best starts right where we are, at home, at work, etc. and not necessarily at the top of Mt. Everest?
Consider a hammer. It’s designed to hit nails. That’s what it was created to do. Now imagine that the hammer never gets used. It just sits in the toolbox. The hammer doesn’t care.
But now imagine that same hammer with a soul, a self-consciousness. Days and days go by with him remaining in the toolbox. He feels funny inside, but he’s not sure exactly why. Something is missing, but he doesn’t know what it is.
Then one day someone pulls him out of the toolbox and uses him to break some branches for the fireplace. The hammer is exhilarated. Being held, being wielded, hitting the branches—the hammer loves it. At the end of the day, though, he is still unfulfilled. Hitting the branches was fun, but it wasn’t enough. Something is still missing.
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Please keep reading this article over here. And then come back and tell me what you think. It’s the best short piece on this subject I’ve found.
And yes readers, you’ll be seeing a few more short commentaries but nothing amazing for a couple more weeks. I have multiple article deadlines already past, and some other top-secret time taking things with deadlines coming up quickly. You’ll have to be happy with this for a little longer.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart... ” all thy purpose, all thy desires, all thy dreams, all thy longings. It is here, right here in this heart of ours that our life can change, will change, and does change. This is listed first because it is first, because it is the temple of Christ. Here he entered, here he first showed us how real He is to us. He here first asks for our dedication to Him. He has loved us beyond imagination, beyond comprehension. He has come into my heart; He has cleansed it and made it whole, He has washed it in His own blood, that I may love Him… and in turn share His love with the whole world.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul (lit. breath), yes, your very breath, the thing of most value to you, love Him with it. He is beyond the value of your life, devote it to His glory. Live to share His love with the world, live to prove He is more precious than life, live to prove He is your life.
John Piper, in his book Don’t Waste Your Life, shares some very meaningful thoughts on this. Let me share: “If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises to provide all our needs…. Finish reading this article at Regenerate Our Culture
David Boskovic -- eighteen, Canadian, Conservative, and sibling to 5 -- writes a practical
mix of journalism, commentary, theology, and inspiration from the perspective of a
Biblical worldview and a homeschooled education. Here at Oneway Purpose he tackles life,
culture, and purpose, taking to task many of the problems that this generation is facing
on the front lines in the battles of the Christian life.
It says so much of what I want to say on this subject. In the meantime, read this comment on my last post.
