I would like to use a quote
from Charles R. Swindoll taken from his book “Paul,” from
chapter seven –
Finding Contentment in God’s Sufficient Grace.
“I need to underscore a
foundational fact: God’s goal is not to make sure you’re happy. No matter how
hard it is for you to believe this, it’s time to do so. Life is not about your
being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It is about becoming
the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear
that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life
is not about you! It’s about God.”
(Allow me to provide the
ending before we even get started. As far as happiness goes, we only find true
happiness when we put God first in our lives, even superseding our own desires
for self.)
Is it possible he might be on
to something here? I for one strongly agree with his statement. Generally
speaking, we are most definitely a society of Christians who are more
interested in our well-being than God’s plan. I’ve been guilty of it, and if
you’ll be honest, you will admit the same. Of course there are those who will
never admit it.
It is a fact that we should
be focused on becoming the man or woman that God wants us to be, instead of
being consumed with our comfort, happiness, success and pain. Is it wrong to
want comfort, happiness, success, and desire to be pain free? Of course not. Any
sane person would want these things, but as a Christian, what should be my
primary goal? Should our goal be God’s goal?
Since Mr. Swindoll’s book is
about the Apostle Paul, let’s use Paul as an example.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Paul states the following:
“… I have worked much harder,
been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to
death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes
minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones,
three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I
have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger
from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger
in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I
have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold
and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for
all the churches.”
Are we so silly to think that
Paul would not have liked to avoid all the suffering he endured? Was he not
human, as we are? I’m sure he didn’t go from town to town thinking “I just
can’t wait to get another beating.” What mattered to Paul was that he was in
God’s will, and being in His will brought him comfort, happiness, and success,
even though they were mixed with pain. Notice what he says next.
“If I must boast, I will
boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30)
Paul learned something about
God’s grace that maybe we have forgotten. Listen to him in this passage.
“…Therefore, in order to keep
me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of
Satan, to torment me. Three times I
pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
The grace of God provides all
that we will ever need as Christians. It is nice to live in worldly comfort,
but it isn’t necessary for true happiness. Things of the world can make us
happy, but they don’t last, because they don’t go deep enough to fulfill the
longing that God put within us. It would be great to go through life and never
suffer pain, but let’s get real; pain is always around the next corner. True
success is a relationship with God that overrides everything else. Let’s hear
from Paul once more.
“I am not saying this because
I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in
want. I can do all this through him who
gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
In closing I would like to
use another quote from Charles R. Swindoll taken from his book “Paul,” from
chapter eleven – A Game Plan for Facing Extreme Circumstances.
“When we awaken in the
morning, we choose the attitude that will ultimately guide our thoughts and
actions through the day. I’m convinced our best attitudes emerge out of a clear
understanding of our own identity, a clear sense of our divine mission, and a
deep sense of God’s purpose for our lives.”
Moses’ protégé Joshua had
this to say: “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away
the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and
serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD
seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
Who are we serving? Is it the
god of self-interest? Much of the Christian world today is so absorbed in our
own well-being we’ve lost sight of what is really important.
What is my identity? Who am
I? Am I not a child of God?
What is my mission in life?
Is it not to serve my Lord and my God?
What is my purpose in life?
Is it not to be in my Father’s will?
Jesus gave us the example to
follow. Over and over He said, “Follow Me.” It isn’t about us. The Christian
life is about following Jesus. He is the Master. We are the servants. We should
never forget that.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
