Chasing with a Purpose

Christine Olding

​Have you ever struggled with the everpopular question, what do you want to do with your life? The pressure to make a decision, to pick something, anything. Somehow, we are miraculously expected to know what we are going to do with our life by the time we leave high school. Then we can choose a post-secondary activity like college, an apprenticeship, university, something that shows we have decided what we are going to do, how we are going to live, make money, pay for housing, food, possibly prepare for a family and be responsible financially.

Whew.... STRESS

But where is God in this? Is He one of the voices wanting us to pick a direction? Is He asking us to decide what we are going to be in our lives so we are set up for financial security? Anyone who has gone to Bible college, ministry school or even Sunday school can blurt out some version of the answer here.

31. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33


What an awesome promise! … So where is God when we are making plans and decisions? I am well known for asking people “If you had a million dollars, and were not worried about money, what do you think God would want you to be doing?” I ask it this way because it is sadly sometimes easier to picture ourselves without money worries if we have a fat bank account, than if we picture ourselves trusting God. Only without worry and stress can we sit in peace with our Father and ask Him, "What would you have me do?” God never planned us to go it alone without Him, struggling to make sure we had enough money by ourselves; He wants to partner with us, as a loving Father. 

“'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '”
​                                                                                                                                                                                                              — Jeremiah 29:11. 

Only when financial security is replaced with Father-based security can we really hear the answer to our question, “Who did you make me to be? And what do you want me to be doing now?” And trust that if we do put Him first, ahead of our money fears and the pressure to look responsible in the world’s eyes, He will provide what we need as we partner with Him. 

Have we slipped into letting our desire for financial security be louder than the Father’s voice? Have we believed the Enemy’s lies that say that if we put God first in everything we won’t have enough? That giving God our direction and choices isn’t practical in our lives, that God doesn’t realize we have bills to pay? This is actually the complete opposite of what Jesus is saying in Matthew!

The trap of pursuing security in finances is you constantly have to chase it and manage it to feel any security at all. As soon as you stop chasing it and putting it first the security leaves you.
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Whereas the Father is the one doing the chasing, running after you with an offer of security, partnership and identity. He will never stop offering that security, He will always be there to partner with you if you choose His family.  He already knows who He created you to be and He can’t wait to talk with you about. You don’t have to create yourself!