The Place God Has Us In

Working with college students it is not unusual for me to encounter individuals who are struggling with their purpose in life. Many of them recognize that they are at a crossroads and that the decisions they make regarding their major and course of study will in some ways dictate the trajectory that their life will follow. Although from my perspective I can assure them that the choices they make are very likely not permanent (I know many successful people who work in fields unrelated to their college major), I understand the pressure that they face. The realization that adulthood is upon them is hard to contend with. They don’t want to make the mistake of pursuing the wrong path.

It’s not just college students who struggle with the question of purpose though. Many individuals in all walks of life ask themselves whether they are in the right field, at the right company, or in the right job. Stay-at-home parents may wonder if they should consider employment outside of the house. Working parents may ponder whether it would be better if they were at home with the kids. Ministry participants may struggle with whether they are serving in the right capacity. Others may wonder if the neighborhood they live in is the best for their current stage of life. Questions of how we spend our time, where we live and what we should invest in are integral to who we are, and they are often the most difficult questions to fully feel at peace with our answers.

The Christian, however, can find assurance in the midst of these questions because we know that regardless of where we are, our task is clear.  In whatever situation we are in, in whatever circumstances come our way, our goal is to share and reflect the Good News of Christ. While we may not know the specific reasons for the places that God puts us, we can know that He intends for us to be an ambassador for Him wherever we are (2 Cor. 5:20). It is not so much a question of whether we are in the right place, but whether we are doing the right thing with the place that God has put us in. Our circumstances may seem uncertain, but our calling isn’t. Even when we don’t know the “why”, the “what” is abundantly clear.

For those that follow Christ this should be an encouragement. As we passionately pursue God’s will for our lives, we can trust that He is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Ro. 8:28). Therefore, while we should be listening to Him to determine if He has called us to something new, we should also be committed to obeying Him in where we are today. It is important that our focus isn’t so much on “what’s next” that we forget what we are to do now. Namely, that we should be intentionally and explicitly sharing the Gospel with those that He brings across our path. He has not placed us where we are by accident. There are individuals that He desires to reach for the sake of eternity, and He uses His children to accomplish that purpose.

It’s easy to get caught up in wondering whether we are where we are supposed to be because of the many options that seem to exist. Perhaps though, the enemy would rather we spend time contemplating whether we are getting everything from life that we want that we neglect to share with those that have no hope except in what this life affords. Perhaps if we spent more time contemplating their future in terms of eternity, not only would our purpose become more clear, but we would concentrate on fulfilling it, and not on musing where God may lead us next.

 

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Making the Most of Our Time

Time is a funny thing. When we are young it seems to drag on forever. Summers appear to last for an eternity, and the gap between birthdays seems much more than 365 days. We make chains and charts to count down the days before anticipated events.

When we grow older though, time is a fleeting aberration. We strive hard to slow it down, to savor the moments, to complete our to-do list before another day expires. Birthdays come and go faster than we can keep track of them. We complete one event only to turn around and find the next staring at us in the face.

In the busyness of this frantic passing of time, it can be tempting to just get things done, as we mimic horses with the blinders on looking only straight ahead. The problem with that is that as time passes, people come in and out of our lives. Some of these individuals will be with us for the long haul. Others are there just for that particular moment, that specific slice of history. Either way, we know that unless they are believers, our time with them won’t be long. That’s why Colossians 4:5 tells us to make the most of it. Specifically it says:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

There are two parts to this admonition.

First, we have to walk in wisdom towards those that don’t know Christ. This means that we have to be mindful and purposeful in our interactions. Our responses, the activities in which we participate, the manner in which we treat others can’t be casual or off-the-cuff. We should be wisely looking for opportunities to make a Kingdom difference in their lives – getting to know their particular situation and history in order to do this more effectively.

Coupled with that, we need to make the best use of the time. We need to not let an opportunity to minister to them pass us by. We don’t know how long our lives will intersect, and so we can’t put off until tomorrow what could be done today. When there seems to be a crack in proverbial door, we need to open it. When there is an opportunity to direct the conversation to things above, we need to take it. We can’t issue excuses for why now might not be the right time (although we can, and should, use wisdom, as indicated above, to manage the particular situation effectively); as far as we know this may be the only opportunity.

Colossians 4:5 is a seemingly simple verse; translated into English it is only 12 words. Yet doing this well, and consistently, can seem so difficult. However, we must remember we only have a limited time to put this command into practice. There won’t be any “outsiders” in Heaven.

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