Misplaced Godly Aspirations

One conversation can change your entire perspective! About a week or so ago, I was talking with my pastor about becoming more financially responsible and investing for the future. Instead of giving me a standing ovation, my pastor pointed out to me that people often pursue financial independence without seeking Christ first. So while I may think that I’m being a wise steward of my finances for God’s sake, I may really be doing it out of a sense of insecurity. Perhaps my true motivation is to impress people. As a result, I end up saving money but neglecting to live generously, as is commanded in Scripture. (Psalm 37:26)

This got me thinking… How many “godly” aspirations do I have that are really rooted in insecurity? 

I want to work really hard and succeed in my job because God commands me to (Colossians 3:23-24), but really I’m just scared I’m gonna let God down and disappoint Him. 

I want a good balance of sleep, diet, and exercise to honor God with my temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), but really I’m just scared that I’m gonna end up sick one day. 

I want to pursue purity in my thoughts and actions (2 Timothy 2:22), but really I’m just scared of what people will think of me and I’m not trusting that God will sustain me. 

The list goes on and on. But notice who is at the center of each of those scenarios I listed: me. When I aim to please God from a place of insecurity, I’m not seeking Christ first. We know this because Christ says His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) Anxious godliness is focused on the self. It looks to the self in order to perform and not let God down. This is called Christian moralism – when one seeks to be moral apart from grace and genuine faith. 

Jesus offers us a better way: 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:22–24)

People often use this verse as an encouragement to trust in God for material provision, and rightfully so. But what if it meant more than that? What if God is telling us not to be anxious for anything? 

Don’t be anxious about your obedience to God.

Don’t be anxious about your holiness. 

Don’t be anxious about your sleep.

Don’t be anxious about your diet. 

Don’t be anxious about your work.

Don’t be anxious about your finances.

Don’t be anxious about your time management. 

This is not to say that the examples above are not important. This is not to say that the examples above ought not be taken seriously. However, this is to say that my confidence should not be rooted in how well I’m going to perform at these things. 

My confidence should be rooted in two truths:

1. I am righteous in the eyes of God by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from my works. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2. It is God who works in me to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

So while it’s good to aspire to be holy, healthy, and financially responsible, I ought not pursue these things from a position of anxiety or insecurity. My confidence has to be that God already accepts me because I’m in Christ, and not in how well I perform. And further, I can pursue godly aspirations with faith that God Himself will accomplish in me what is good. He will get me where I need to be, even though it may not happen as quickly as I’d like it to. 

So my friend, I encourage you to pursue godliness, but don’t be anxious about it. Just as God provides for the ravens, so will He provide for us grace as we aspire to follow Him! Look to Christ, and not yourself!

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:7-9)