Wednesday, September 26, 2007

31When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 CEV
One of the responsibilities I have on an almost daily basis is counseling. Now, I'm not a trained counselor and, on most occasions, I will refer individuals and couples to someone who is. I don't want to try and be something I'm not. But I will take the time to talk with anyone who calls or schedules an appointment to see if I can get to the root of their spiritual problems first.

Some times it's a marriage issue. Other times it can be a self-esteem problem, an addiction or a struggle with spiritual doubts. Each person who comes to my attention has unique needs. Each one expresses their life frustrations in different ways. Here's what many of them have in common, however. Purpose. Or, more accurately stated, lack of purpose. I honestly believe that so many of the "issues" of our lives revolve around our inability to remember our purpose. Why were you created? Not for jobs, hobbies, families or even religion. The Bible makes one thing clear from cover-to-cover. You and I were made to worship (sorry, Chris Tomlin, not trying to steal your thunder).

We were made to worship. Plain and simple. And every attempt to live outside of that purpose leads us into frustration. Your frustration isn't because you can't seem to get ahead on your debt; your frustration comes because you allowed things to become more important than God. You aren't broken because the pregnancy test keeps coming back negative; you are broken because you forgot Who it is that forms life and determines our footsteps. You have forgotten your place. Your place is not on the throne...it's on your knees. And every attempt you and I make to stand "on our own two feet" and make something of ourselves is a slap at God's face and a journey outside of His will.

So...you want to go it alone and make a name for yourself? Go ahead. Feel free. God's given you that option. And I'll see you in my office in a few months or a few years as we talk about how God's way is the only way that will ever satisfy you. Whatever you do, do it for Him. Do it for His glory. Do it for your own well-being.

1 comment:

Diana said...

One of the interesting things about this post is God's "purpose" and God's "will"
Often we confuse the two never realizing that the two plans are somewhat seperated. God's purpose for me is to worship and bring glory to Him. God's will for me is the guidance through Him to do the things He wants me to do to best carry out His desire for my life, not what I think is the best way to do it.