Good, better, best

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. –Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

There have been times when I had multiple choices in front of me, all of which looked worthwhile, any one of which would preclude the others. I prayed for guidance, hoping that God would close all doors except the one He wanted me to walk through. In my experience, things are rarely that simple….

Happily, I have learned that when I am walking with God, there are no Bad Choices. Even when the path I took turns out to be a temporary assignment, I find the detour beneficial in building a skill set that comes in handy later, meeting someone who will play a role in my life beyond that season, or finding an unexpected opportunity to bless someone who needed to see a picture of Jesus. All these provide insight into how God works in my life.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

When possible, I have dipped my toe in the water on a few opportunities, kind of a low-risk exploratory venture if you will. More often than not, I find that one of those will keep popping up and/or prove to be more needed or interesting than others. So even though there was no flashing neon sign from the Lord saying, “DO THIS, NOT THAT”, the choice resolved itself in time. (I’m not sure if that’s a good application of Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, but a case might be made there.)

One lesson I wish I had grasped earlier is the importance of investing myself in pursuits that yield eternal dividends. Not that the time or effort was wasted – as stated earlier, God redeems it all, often in spite of ourselves. But I do wish I had been more aware at times of the opportunities to do Kingdom work while I was earning a living or advancing a career. If I could go back 25 years and speak to the younger version of myself, that’s what I’d tell me. For the days I have left, I am trying to make that my priority.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

Make it count, men. At work, at play, at rest, it’s all worship if we’re doing it right. Whether you have many days left or just a few, make it count.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. –Psalm 90:17 (NIV)