Finding Joy to Replace Purposelessness
This past Sunday we studied Proverbs 4, focusing on verse 23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” This verse illustrates an important reality: what you store, or ‘keep’ in your heart is what will come out. Now the reverse is also true, as we saw with the verses surrounding 4:23, that the way you use the rest of your body is what feeds the heart. The eyes and ears are the gateways to the heart. The feet determine the direction that your eyes and ears are pointed. We need to be wise with our body because it will shape our heart, our character, and ultimately our lives.
Sometimes our feet end up taking us places that maybe we didn’t mean to go because we didn’t have another plan to give us a positive direction and purpose. Last week while visiting my son in Phoenix, he shared a story from his college experience. He attends Grand Canyon University (GCU), where he is a Resident Assistant in a freshman dorm and also is active at the campus rock climbing wall. GCU is a Christian college, so they have behavior standards that students are expected to keep. For instance, you can receive a violation for consuming or possessing alcohol.
But here’s what I found interesting. He said GCU does not have a punishment for your first violation, instead you are required to try an on-campus activity that you haven’t tried before. One of the recommended activities on the list is rock climbing. He said he’s met a number of people who have come to climb for the first time because of a violation and, as a result, they end up finding something that they enjoy which gives them purpose and replaces the empty activity of partying. In fact, I think many who get caught up in partying in college never intended to do so, they just fell in with what everyone else was doing because they lacked their own vision and excitement for life.
The point for us is to be filling our hearts with things that draw us closer to Christ because, if not, the heart will naturally latch on to whatever is easiest or whatever is most popular. Of course if we surround ourselves with people passionate about Christ, it’s easier to be inspired to keep filling our hearts with His Word.This week we will be studying Proverbs 5, where you’ll also see a father instruct his son how to avoid the temptations of this world by focusing on the good gifts from God. We are also back in the swing with our Wednesday night activities, with a meal at 5pm, then discipleship groups, students, and AWANA starting at 6:30pm. Come fill your bellies and your hearts with good food. Can’t wait to see you there!
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash