What do you want? If I had asked that question of you a year ago, 5 years ago, ten years ago, would you say today that you have what you wanted? How would you describe the state of your heart? Are you satisfied? Happy? Frustrated? Waiting for the next thing to come along?
What should determine what we want for ourselves? Some Christians have a hard time with this question because they have read the passages about denying themselves, considering others interests as more important than their own, not loving the things of this world. These are passages that have significant relevance to the growing Christian, but they need to be read in context. These passages are not saying that we should not want anything. Denying ourselves and looking out for the interests of others has to do with helping to bring them into a relationship with Christ. They also have to do with growing ourselves in our knowledge and understanding of Christ and His will for our lives.
However, we are cautioned against becoming too attached to the things of this world. John writes, "Do not love the world or anything in the world...For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world (I John 2:15-16)." Instead of loving these things and allowing them to become too important, we need to learn as Paul exhorts us, to be "content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Phil. 4:12)."
It isn't only things that we become attached to as John points out. We can also become proud of what we do, our jobs, our status in the community, even in the church. So, what should we want? Above all else, we should want to be growing in our relationship with the Father. We should want anything that would assist us in becoming more like Christ. We should want the things the Lord desires to give us, the things that He has already blessed us with, the things that He has entrusted to us to accomplish His purpose. Anything beyond that, as Paul would say is "rubbish (Phil. 3:8)."
What should determine what we want for ourselves? Some Christians have a hard time with this question because they have read the passages about denying themselves, considering others interests as more important than their own, not loving the things of this world. These are passages that have significant relevance to the growing Christian, but they need to be read in context. These passages are not saying that we should not want anything. Denying ourselves and looking out for the interests of others has to do with helping to bring them into a relationship with Christ. They also have to do with growing ourselves in our knowledge and understanding of Christ and His will for our lives.
However, we are cautioned against becoming too attached to the things of this world. John writes, "Do not love the world or anything in the world...For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world (I John 2:15-16)." Instead of loving these things and allowing them to become too important, we need to learn as Paul exhorts us, to be "content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Phil. 4:12)."
It isn't only things that we become attached to as John points out. We can also become proud of what we do, our jobs, our status in the community, even in the church. So, what should we want? Above all else, we should want to be growing in our relationship with the Father. We should want anything that would assist us in becoming more like Christ. We should want the things the Lord desires to give us, the things that He has already blessed us with, the things that He has entrusted to us to accomplish His purpose. Anything beyond that, as Paul would say is "rubbish (Phil. 3:8)."
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