Day 76 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Pursuing What Matters

Proverbs 12:11 [ESV] Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. ...

When we read about worthless pursuits, let’s not be tempted to think of young people and their video games or Youtube watching. I should consider my own worthless pursuits. In order to examine what might be considered my own worthless pursuits I should think about binging a season of my favorite show in one night. But I should also go deeper.

The definition of what is a “worthless pursuit” can be much more complex and far-reaching than that.

For example, anything not guided or blessed by God – anything not within His will – can be or can become a worthless pursuit.

James 4:13-16 warns us about setting about on any plans not guided by God [ESV] 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

While you may not need to pursue God’s will in deciding if you should serve broccoli or green beans for dinner, buy a blue car or a black one, etc., I believe that there’s much more of our lives that could and should be subjected to the “God’s will test”. This is true especially if you and I want to ensure that we don’t pursue something that is worthless. Again, we are defining anything that is not within the will of God for us as being a “worthless” pursuit.

So, we need to search God’s scriptures, lay out our plans to Him via prayer, and seek wise council among trusted advisors before life’s big decisions – like marriage, college, career choices, and volunteering. Volunteering, helping others, is an important component of the Christian walk. But we should ask God, “What should I spend my time doing? Where would you have me serve? Is this the best place, the right place to use the resources and talents you have given me?” before getting involved with a service project. Whether that project is volunteering at women’s shelter, for a church educational program, for a community service project or any other charitable deed.

God has invested each of us with resources, with talents and with 24 hours a day. He gives most of us “three score and 10” (that is 70 years). We should be spending some of that serving others. However, any time, resource or talent we spend that is not spent doing what is within His will can ultimately be a worthless pursuit and a waste of our limited time on the earth.

Sisters, we must filter all potential activities (even those that seem good and worthwhile) through the lens of God’s will. This is the only way to ensure that the time, resources and talents we have are spent on only the most worthy pursuits – pursuits that honor our Father and are done because it is His will that we should do them.

Prayer – Lord God, all that I have you have given me. I seek your guidance today. Show me your will for how I spend my time, resources and talents. Help me spend them on pursuits that are worthy and in line with your will. In Jesus name. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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