Greater Purpose
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” — Acts 17:26-27
Mandy and I found a house to rent in Knoxville on Saturday. This entire journey has been one example after another of God’s great faithfulness. He has stretched us and increased our faith and has provided all that we have needed. We trust that he will continue to provide.
I heard a sermon on the passage above and I felt some conviction about our home selection process. We, as a culture, get consumed with what we can get from a neighborhood rather than what we put into it.
Our attitude going in is one of consuming: “What are the schools? Is it safe? How are the neighbors?” We should be asking more questions of how we can benefit the community.
Is there anything wrong with wanting good schools or being safe or having good neighbors? Absolutely not. The problem comes when we make these questions the determining factor in where we live.
According to Paul in Acts, the purpose of God placing us where he has is so that we will “feel our way toward him and find him.” We have to ask the question: “Is God at the center of my pursuits?” This question applies in all facets of life. Those things that are good and valuable in our lives have the greatest potential to become our idols.
I believe through a number of affirmations that we will be living where God has called us to live. But I want my heart to pursue God first over his blessings.
Anyone else share this struggle?
