How does pursuit of DESIRES fit with God’s plan?
I wrote this church blog back in May 2017.
Within an individual’s choice to follow Jesus, I was querying the nature of ambition and desire in relation to the lifestyle Jesus commands, because I was confused by the various lifestyles of Christians.
For sake of ease here, I will split this into two categories.
(1) There were the very rare few whose lives reflected Biblical scripture in the application of Jesus’ principles.
The greatest examples I read about, saw, and met were those who had surrendered every bit of their life’s direction to God so completely that it was intimidating.
They’d truly suffered for God’s sake, renouncing all manner of ‘self.’
Anything related to self/ego/pride was renounced and in this rejection of self-directed preservation or ‘limbic’ behaviour, they had remained faithful to God’s leadership.
Through their great obstacles and trials, HE’D made them God-inspired entrepreneurs with an abundance of financial capital.
Their businesses or churches were centred on serving people in the ways God very specifically orders, building hospitals, orphanages, churches, travelling on missionary trips to difficult areas of the world, and most importantly, loving the unloved.
Even more significantly, the individuals themselves are/were humble, loving, kind, assertive, and incredibly sound-minded. They were clear in their perception of life, but not aggressive. Passionate – yes, but composed at the same time. Meek, yet authoritative simultaneously.
(2) Then there were the majority of Christians who appeared to ‘do life’ with God in their ‘own way;’ a type of subjective morality built with God while compartmentalising God where necessary.
For them, their ability to separate God from their life at crucial moments justified and permitted dubious, ambiguous, ‘grey’ actions; most often when their deepest desires/ambitions came under scrutiny or conflict with God.
Some were incredibly wealthy by their own hard work and initiative.
Others lived life very similar to how the average secular person does with nothing distinctive or unique that revealed Jesus’ leading in their life.
I consulted the Bible and reviewed the strange way this book had transformed me thus far (this was in May 2017).
It pressed me to deeper understanding of what the Scriptures meant for my personal ambitions and desires, and I can assure you that what I found wasn’t to my personal liking.
Nevertheless, I was convicted beyond previous beliefs that what I found was and is the way to live FREE in an unfair, unjust, broken, and fallen world.
How does pursuit of DESIRES fit with God’s plan?
A series of thoughts about the nature of ambition, desire, and God’s leadership in our life
By Stephen L France
On the ‘social scene’ in my teenage years and early twenties, I’d always felt obstructed by moral barriers. I was only free of these principles, following consumption of copious amounts of alcohol.
But in Dec 2014—after five years abroad—I returned to London a changed man, transformed, and liberated of inhibitions.
I had a simple plan for my life going forward.
Return to London, initiate my financial boom through writing my novels, and take full relentless advantage of my newfound amorality—a conscience that no longer knew ethical boundaries as a result of many painful situations, during my time on the other side of the world.
The multitude of hurtful occasions while away from home, implanted a soul-destroying lesson; the world is cruel and no one cares for morals anymore, so I don’t need to either.
Being back in London, I joined the most popular dating apps on my phone and was about to commence my tenure on the ‘worldly’ side of life—fully intentional—knowing my selfish desires were permissible by secular world standards.
I’d never felt such freedom before.
I was ready to make money and pursue a licentious life with the delights London has to offer…
The ‘worldly’ plan…interrupted
Jesus said “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” [Mark 8:35]
Before I even had time to begin making money, enjoying the night life of London, and pursuing my own will, things took an unusual turn.
A week after arriving in the city of smog, I was unexpectedly at a Christian Bible-cell dinner, then Emmanuel Evangelical Church, followed by joining a cell, then reading the Bible cover to cover, and my baptism.
There was no time for middle-ground or Luke-warmness in these months.
It was either ‘in’ with Christ or ‘out,’ and I made my choices at each step.
This was not easy and was met with many moments where I attempted to blend worldly desires with Christ’s life for me. Of course, this NEVER works.
After a gruelling set of Godly trials—examining past wounds and the self-deceptive coping mechanisms I created—2017 has seen me beginning life again, but with God as the foundation of everything.
I have surrendered my life to Christ’s grace, knowing what the Lord means when he says “you will save your life.”
I can’t help but feel this quote is not only describing life in eternity, but also life here on Earth.
The transformation He has nurtured has seen me living a healthier physical, mental, and spiritual lifestyle.
Of course, my conscience attacks sometimes with words equating to: Life is passing me by…YOLO
Going forward
Having travelled this narrow road with a fierce hunger for the Lord, my main cause for writing this blog is to ask the question – where does life ambition and money fit in with God’s will?
I’ve been on a part-time salary for the past two years and four months and strongly believe this has been God’s will for me, because it has allowed ample time to get to know Him intimately.
It’s blessed me with the freedom to consult Scripture daily, read many secondary sources, attend a variety of Godly conferences, and embark on multiple courses for profound soul-searching and healing with Christ.
If you speak to me today, my two main statements are:
- I cannot believe I ever thought God didn’t love me – He loves people more than words can describe. Everybody needs to know this for the foundation of their self-worth, significance, and security
- I’m so sorry and sad for the abundance of deception that exists in this world – it’s preposterous how many lies exist, living around us, in us, and through us. I wish to do the Lord’s will and expose the lies with the Light
With this now founded in my heart, I’ve turned my attention back to my life’s desires in the form of my career and regaining financial stability.
This has meant strong vigilance over time management and making difficult choices.
The major question that has arisen in my mind is: am I putting my own life pursuits before God?
I reviewed the following three verses to answer my query:
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Mark 10.21]
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [Matthew 6:24]
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [1 Timothy 6:10]
There are three fundamental points I drew from this:
- I cannot let money or anything in life assume control over God. E.g. In making decisions between paid work and voluntary service for the Lord, my choice comes down to spiritual discernment and knowing the Word of the Lord. The fact is, He knows my heart so there is no way around my choice, save being absolutely honest about my intentions in heart-felt confession
- It is impossible to have two Gods so there’s no point in trying to align them. I have to understand that either I serve God OR other life pursuits – never both. No negotiation. No compromise. No grey.
- Love of money or anything else other than God will lead me to evil, translating into wicked behaviour like selfishness, arrogance, greed, lust, envy, pride etc.
Conclusion
God does not say that I cannot be ambitious in my career nor does He say that acquiring financial wealth is a sin.
The main statute our Lord commands of us is to make sure that money or ambition does not become a ‘God substitute’ or godly idol.
God must come first in all things I do, including pursuit of career and financial stability.
I must align to God’s will and not try to align God’s will to my pursuits in life.
This means surrendering my plans to God so He can establish my steps in life and “doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit…” [Philippians 2:3]
So, bringing this into my own life, if a course, conference, or book recommendation emerges and there’s a strong calling on me to pursue it for God, am I going to say “no” due to time management and my own desires?
Absolutely not; I will prioritise whatever God has for me, because His way is always the right way in all things.
Do you ever debate with God’s will for you?
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