In my previous blog, I made the point that talking about vision in many cases has become practice in futility. We have mistaken fantasy for vision and used popular buzz words to make ourselves appear to be great men and women of faith. For years I’ve been told that all Christian leaders have to have a vision. “Where there is no vision the people perish, (Proverbs 29:18)” was repeatedly quoted. I have been asked more times than I can count, “What’s yer veeesion, brotha?”
I was honest with you in Part 1 of this blog. When asked this question I admitted to getting sweaty palms and a knot in the pit in my stomach. I always feel under pressure to somehow give a grandiose answer that’s bigger and better than anyone else’s vision; bigger than the last time; something no one has ever dreamed of before; a vision so large that only God can fulfill it!
And yes, I admitted into launching into a litany of huge ideas that were full of the American dream of wealth, power and stardom. And, of course, I’m the guy at the center of it all! After all, we don’t have vision for other people. That would take the fun out of it. Vision, I’ve always observed, should all be about the person doing the fantasizing.
Now that we’ve reviewed, let’s move on to a solution for the vision dilemma…
The natural question is, “If it’s not our contemporary idea of vision, what should we do in order to keep ourselves forward focused and give our life meaning?” In order to answer this question, I want to suggest five things that we can focus on as we move forward in our lives and ministries; five things that will keep us headed in the right direction. If followed, these five tenets will steer us over the long haul much better and more efficiently than chasing our dreams and fantasies under the guise of vision.
#1: Focus on Principles
Principles are timeless. They are cross-cultural and applicable in every situation in life. The Bible is full of them. If we can cut through our religious bias and traditions, we can discover these guiding principles and live by them. A religious spirit will be the biggest enemy to such pursuits; trying to conform us to a set of rules and regulations that are intolerant and narrow. However, I have discovered that when principles are applied to life, the way becomes clear and decisions are made easy. I want to be a principled person, don’t you?
#2: Focus on Priorities
Form your priorities carefully and Biblically. Know what is most important in your life and start pursuing your interests based upon the priorities you have established. I suggest you take time and write out a list of your priorities so you can see them and read them. As life goes on, your priorities will change. That’s normal. You will also have to constantly evaluate your decisions, words, motives and actions to determine if you are staying true to your priorities. Living according to a set list of priorities is a process, not a destination. Like a pilot flying an airplane, you will be constantly engaged in course correction. But your priorities can help you navigate your way through life. If you don’t sacrifice your priorities to fit your situation, then your life will head in the right direction and land in a safe place!
#3: Focus on Purpose
When I talk about purpose I am referring to the reason why you are alive. Rick Warren has done an excellent job defining a life of purpose in his bestselling book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” Your purpose is a combination of your gifts, abilities, skills, relationships and opportunities all coming together to point you in a direction. Knowing your purpose will help you understand yourself and make sense out of life. It will help you know what road to take and what road NOT to take. When I think about my purpose and not my vision, I get a more relaxed and consistent view of my future. The pressure is off. I think less about my achievements and the pressure of meeting goals, and more about fulfilling the overall reason for my existence.
#4: Focus on People
When it’s all said and done, life is about people. This is the example Christ left us. When the woman was caught in adultery and sentenced to die a brutal death by stoning, Jesus saved her life. When healing on the Sabbath, He explained that the law was meant to serve mankind and not the other way around. He also explained the same truth to His religious audience when His disciples were picking grain on the Sabbath; reminding them that David took the showbread from the tabernacle (which was unlawful ) in order to feed himself and his men when they were hungry. Rules should always be used to serve as instruments of blessing for humanity, not the other way around. Being a Christian means that we focus ourselves on serving people and doing what we can to make their life better. When we do this, Jesus promises us that we will experience true life (see Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35 & Luke 9:24).
#5: Focus on Peace
Frankly, at the end of the day, I like to sleep! Anything that steals my sleep and keeps me up worrying at night is something I want to avoid. Sometimes when peace escapes me it means that I must address a problem head-on. God won’t let me rest until I do. That’s when I must have the courage to do the right thing. At other times the absence of peace means that I have ventured off course and got myself onto a road that I am not graced to travel. When that happens, I must have the humility to put the car in reverse and back out of the situation I am in. Courage and humility must work together in order for us to find peace. Peace is not a result of compromise; it is the results of confrontation – doing the right thing no matter the cost. When I am operating in the sphere of my calling, long hours and challenging situations are met with a level of peace that allows me to lay my head on the pillow and sleep.
So there you have it: Focusing on (1) Principles, (2) Priorities, (3) Purpose, (4) People and (5) Peace will help us navigate through life far better and easier than focusing on this Americanized thing we call Vision. Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment and let me know. Thanks!
The illustration below might help you visualize this truth better.
Thank you!!!
Great word Mark…thanks!
Excellent article!! I especially caught on to your statements that courage is so needed to make the necessary changes when peace is lacking. Many of us in the body of Christ have tendencies to feel that the Lord will simply work out the lack of peace in His timing and discount their responsibly of free will to evaluate and make the necessary changes. What was perfectly peaceful at one time and in one season can and often does change for many of us. Having the courage to back up, think it through, and then go forward is so important. God does guide us along the way but we do have to get out of park and start the car. Little moves forward allows His hand to then gently bring clarity to our course and show Himself strong in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).