All you can do is all you should do

New believers often wonder, "what is God's will for my life." In asking they are usually thinking of what career path or job they should take, where they should live, whether they should or shouldn't marry, and if so, who, and so on. However, though certainly important, these aren't the most important questions. Knowing God's will is more simple and basic than this. 

Stated simply, God's will for us is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. 

The question then becomes how do we individually best live out this most basic, foundational commandment, i.e. what does this look like for us practically? This depends on the unique way God has gifted us. Stated simply, we love others and honor God best through diligent use of our unique gifts, abilities, resources, and life experiences. 

What we are all called to do is love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (our greatest effort)... This is the same for all of us, but will look different for each of us depending on our circumstances, experiences, abilities, gifts, and tasks before us. 

Once we know ¹our gifts, we are to use them for the tasks at hand. Knowing and exercising our gifts for His honor is our most important focus. God's will for us is no more than this, but certainly not less. 

For example, though the world needs saving, if God hasn't given us the ability and/or resources to save the world then we should not try to save it. It's not our responsibility nor should it be ²our burden. But if he's given us the ability to teach or serve or encourage etc, we are to do so by His Spirit and with all the energy/power He works in us -- i.e. moved by his love for us and ours for Him in all that we do. It is God who works in us to will and do of His good pleasure. Philippians 21:3

If you are a musician, play music well; if an artist, create art well; if a teacher, teach well; if a parent, parent well; if a business owner, run your business as a business well; if an employee, serve your boss and customers well; if a helper, serve well; if a writer, write well, etc. We should constantly be honing in, using, developing -- fanning into flame -- our gifts, no matter how simple or elaborate they are, or how widely they are or are not applied or acknowledged, to the greatest possible extent, for the glory of God. 

While at the same time not overly concerning ourselves with those things we are not gifted at. For example, we are all commanded to make disciples but that looks different for each of us. Those who have the gift of evangelism will have a unique ability to share the gospel with clarity, effectiveness, and energy/passion that we won't. However, we all can live out the gospel not only with our words but our actions through the gifts we have, resulting in others coming to faith. 

Whatever our gifts are, they should be used diligently, with all our might i.e. with excellence, for the glory of God. 

For a further discussion on excellence click here. 

For a further discussion on knowing God's will click here 

_____________________________________________________________

*What are your gifts? Two things that will help you find out. Ask yourself what you are good at. That's a good start. Then ask others, who know you best, what you are good at. When you have the answer, you have a very good idea of where to focus your energy and efforts. 

**God, however, may lay on someone's heart such a burden/passion for a particular challenge that a person will seek God for the needed resources to take on a task and not stop praying and pursuing it until God provides what is needed. A great example of this would be the George Mueller story. He built several orphanages and ran his entire operation solely by faith in God and dependence on Him for donations. He never asked anyone directly for funds, only God.