So What Do You Want

What do you want to do with your life, that is the rest of it? Whether our days be few or many we each, everyday, have to ask ourselves this very question. What do I want out of life? What will bring me the greatest joy and satisfaction? Should I stay put; should I move; should I go into another line of work; what is best?

What do you want out of your life? Many are coming up with answers that generally seem admirable in the eyes of society but are proving disastrous down the road.

Ask a young man or woman of today just leaving college what they want and they are likely to tell you something along the lines of make lots of money, climb the ladder in my career and become very successful therein, and have the things money can buy which, of course, seems today to always include a new house in the finest neighborhood, new vehicles, and all the things that accompany that sort of lifestyle.

Many years ago a young man by the name of Solomon was asked by none other than God himself words to the effect what do you Solomon want out of your life? God says to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (2 Chron. 1:7 NKJV) How many young people today, how many middle aged people, would answer that question correctly in a way that would please God? For that matter how many older people would?

Solomon asked God for "wisdom and knowledge" to rule and judge his kingdom, God's people. God's reply to Solomon tells us much about the way to a happy fulfilling life wherein when we come to the end of the road we can look back with contentment, peace, and a sense of achievement. We can have a joyous life if we seek the right things.

"Then God said to Solomon: 'Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king--wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.'" (2 Chron. 1:11-12 NKJV)

Solomon gave God the kind of answer that was pleasing to God and there was not an ounce of selfishness or greed in Solomon's request.  We can learn a lot by looking at the kind of things Solomon did not ask for. His not asking pleased God. 

Solomon did not ask for riches or wealth. This tells me that the goal of life ought not to be the acquisition of personal riches. That is not God's desire for man. "One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" says the Son of God in Luke 12:15 (NKJV).

Jesus said, "No servant can be the slave of two masters; he will hate one and love the other; he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:13 TEV)  The Analytical-Literal translation says, "You are not able to be serving as a slave to God and to worldly wealth." Both of these translations get exactly to the meaning of the text.  One will either be God's slave or a slave to the making of money. The emphasis is on the word slave.

The commentator Albert Barnes, commenting on the parallel passage found in Matt. 6:24, hit’s the nail squarely on the head. He says, "The meaning is, ye cannot serve the true God, and at the same time be supremely engaged in obtaining the riches of this world.  One must interfere with the other."

I do not like to hear people talk about trying to become millionaires. I do not believe that is a scripturally worthy goal for one's life.

Paul says, (1 Tim. 6:9-10 NKJV), "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Paul says some Christians have "strayed from the faith" because of the desire for money.  It can happen. It does happen. The obtaining of wealth should not be the goal of a Christian or of anyone for that matter. There are other and better things.

James says that we Christians at times "ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3 NKJV) Money is not meant to be obtained and used "to make me happy" in fulfilling my dreams for the things of this world.

Jesus says, "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:24 NKJV) And, the Bible still says, covetousness is idolatry. (Col 3:5)

Why have I emphasized this so? There are two reasons. (1) Greed is one of those sins of which no one is guilty. Have you ever heard of a man who would admit to such a thing?  It is a sin of which no one is guilty all the while the truth being that a great, great many are guilty.

(2) I have also emphasized this because the God of acquisition is replacing the God of the Bible in the affections of the young. That worries me greatly because "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Tim. 6:7 NKJV) And, it is "appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Heb. 9:27 NKJV) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether, good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10 NKJV)

Make all the money you can but don't make it a life goal to be rich nor seek such. If you do make good money remember what Paul told Timothy, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (1 Tim. 6:17-19 NKJV)

True joy and happiness in life is not found in wealth. The only lasting joy you will ever get out of wealth is when you give it away. We know this but seldom act on it. There are few joys greater than making it possible with the money you have been blessed with for a poor needy child to have a Christmas they would not otherwise have.

But, we could have this joy on a continual basis if we would for there are poor needy, even orphan children, all over the world which need us everyday and it would take but so little of what we have to make a big difference in their lives but the big screen tv, or the new car, or the payment on the new home we never needed has the priority. Is God pleased with us?

Neither did Solomon ask God for honor. We all know the Bible teaches us to be humble.  We would learn humility from our sins if we would take our sins seriously but too often we do not. We do not see nor do we desire to see sin in our own life. It is hard to be humble if you do not feel the weight of your sins, past or present.

Jesus asks, "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44 NKJV) The problem with the desire for honor in a man's life is that it sets his priorities all askew. It is a desire to be exalted above his fellowman, his brethren. The problem with God's honor from man's perspective is that it does not come in this life where men and women can see it and give him honor here and now.

One cannot help but be reminded of Haman from the book of Esther. The Bible says, "When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath." (Esther 3:5 NKJV) If our desire for our life is to obtain high position and be exalted above others, to be the big boss man, the man with power and authority over others, we will find nothing but conflict and misery in our life -- strife.

When I think on these things I am reminded so much of what goes on in politics. A striving for honor, power, and glory - who will get to be boss. The result is continual strife.

Do you remember when James and John went to Jesus asking that one might sit on his right hand and the other his left in his glory? You will find this account in Mark 10. The Bible says "when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John." (Mark 10:41 NKJV)

The seeking after honor in one's life will not bring happiness nor God's pleasure. In God's kingdom we are all to be but brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to honor not just a select few but Peter says, "honor all people" (1 Peter 2:17 NKJV), or as the old King James reads "honor all men".

James, tells us if both a rich man and a poor man come into our assembly and we show special favor to the rich we have shown partiality, become judges of evil thoughts, and dishonored the poor man. (James 2:2-6) We have sinned. We are to honor all men.

Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." (Mark 10:45 NKJV) Here is a worthy goal of life and one which will make us happy. Be a servant to God and man. Help those who are struggling and need your help. You will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. Seek honor and find strife. Seek humble service and find joy and happiness, love and affection.

Solomon did not ask for the life of his enemies. I am sure none of us have set that as a goal of ours either but we may well set out in life to show others, to get a sort of vengeance that way, on those who have mistreated us, especially when we are still young. It never works. It only brings us down. Hate a man and destroy yourself. There is no peace in hate.

When we strive to get even or show others all we are doing is giving others the power over us to make us miserable -- they win, you lose. The way to happiness is "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matt. 5:44 NKJV) Love brings peace. It is the road to a happy life and a worthy goal to pursue.

Finally, Solomon did not ask for a long life. How we live the days of our life, the days we have, is more important than how long we live. We have no guarantee of tomorrow for "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Heb. 9:27 KJ) and we never know when the day of our appointment will arrive. That is just the way it is. We must accept it.

The day will eventually come, provided the Lord does not return first, when no one will ever know you lived. Even great kings of ancient times have now long since been forgotten. The weather will eventually erase even your name from your tombstone.

We can face this fact with despair if we so choose. What we ought rather to do is determine to make everyday count. How do we do that? By doing good, all the good we can do. By serving God and believing his promise of life beyond the grave. By loving rather than hating. By living a life of faith, a living and working faith, laying up treasures in heaven.

So, we conclude. What do you want to do with the rest of your life? What shall God give you? It seems to me that we can pretty much have the life we want for it is what we make of it. God has given us that choice. What do you want out of life? We get to choose.  Choose wisely.