Why are we doing what we are doing?

Someone wrote, “The wisest person is not the one who knows the right answers but the one who asks the right questions.”

I came across a sermon by Dr. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis who authored more than 20 books and host of a daily radio program, Desiring God. It is really a thought-provoking one that would lead us to ask, “Why are we doing what we are doing?”

We are to live our lives aligned with God’s goal for us. Piper wrote, “For if we don't know His goal and our lives are not in alignment with it, then we will find ourselves at cross purposes with God and excluded from His Kingdom in the age to come. It is a fearful thing to be at cross purposes with your maker! But on the other hand, nothing inspires courage and endurance and pluck for daily living like knowing the purpose of God and feeling yourself wholeheartedly in harmony with it.”

Why did God create us? In Isaiah 43:7, God declared, “They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory.” (Good News Bible) He created us to bring honor to Him. You may say, “That verse refers to Israel.” But the apostle Paul also wrote: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, New Int’l Version) Piper explained, “This is not an admonition to do God a favor. It is a command to align our lives with His eternal goal. He created us for His glory.”

Brethren, I encourage you to take this calling seriously. I shared to you and will continue sharing to you what God wants to do in and through us. God wants us to fulfill His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and His Great Commandment (22:37-40). As long as we fulfill these, we glorify God. Failure to do so means we are at cross purposes with God.

So, let’s go back to our question: “Why are we doing what we are doing?” Are we here to fulfill that goal to give God glory? Or are we just playing church?

P.S. By the time you read this, my wife and I are on our way to Singapore. We will attend the Asia-Pacific Healthy Church Conference 2006 by Sonlife Ministries. Other than safe travel, pray also that we will learn everything we need to learn from this conference. Thank you!

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