Let Your Eyes Look Straight Ahead
I have to stay on the path that God has put me on. Any other way can lead to a loss of priority and therefore a setback to what God has called me to do.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.”
(Proverbs 4:25–27, NKJV)
This is very important advice for a person who has a desire to be involved and serve their community or a business leader. We can easily take on projects that bog us down rather than accomplish anything productive. In fact, it can be downright unproductive. Today I’d like to look at the scriptures and see if there is a way to be streamlined in the projects and causes, we get ourselves involved in, and in the process, become much more productive for the Kingdom of God.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.”
(Proverbs 4:25, NKJV)
First, Let’s Talk About Priority
My first priority has to include being the best husband / dad I can be. It is important to work on this and be committed to my wife and to be there for my grown kids, whenever they need me. But as far as projects are concerned, one of my biggest problems is overcommitment. I am a mediocre musician, graphic designer, web developer, and photographer. I am better as a teacher and speaker. My heart’s desire is to love and serve others by giving them the word of God, listening to their struggles, encouraging them, and praying for them. What can I do to be better at what I do? Focus. Being a musician is fun and I get to worship Jesus. It also takes up a lot of time and keeps me from doing other, more pertinent things. Being a graphic designer / web developer brings in some much-needed income, but also takes up time and energy and often leaves me so exhausted that I cannot function for weeks after a project is completed. I worked as a photographer for a newspaper, so that gave me both an income and allowed me to do something I loved. But now, it serves little more than getting me out of the house to get some much-needed exercise.
The reason I took time to give a little more detail than I normally would in a post like this is that I wanted to show how I might prioritize these things in order of importance. The scripture above tells me to focus on what is in front of me. The first part of this is priority. What is going to keep me on the path? What is going to distract me from accomplishing all that God wants me to do for His glory and for the good of others?
This brings up another aspect of the verse that I can apply in a practical way:
What Path Am I On, Anyway?
There was one priority in my life that I didn’t focus on above. It is being a teacher, speaker, and having a heart to serve others. This would include such things as being an author (this Substack and writing new books), Stage4 ministries (speaking / teaching / ministering), Solace (small group ministry administration / project management / organization), running it all as a 501(c) 3 non-profit religious corporation. Within these are organizing volunteers, coordinating fund-raising opportunities, implementing marketing strategies (getting the word out about how we would love to serve people touched by tragedy like a cancer diagnosis) through graphics, social media posts, and word of mouth campaigns. We will soon be implementing a new ministry that is practical in nature, making care bags for those in chemo / treatment or extended hospital stays and delivering such to the patients in question.
Just writing that out seems overwhelming. I didn’t do that to toot my own horn either. I did it as an example of priority and path. If I am going to “Let my eyes look straight ahead…” Then I have to stay on the path that God has put me on. Any other way can lead to a loss of priority and therefore a setback to what God has called me to do. Was I called to be a musician? No. Therefore, I must put practice and devotion to musical endeavors low on the list. It can be a way to worship Jesus. It can be a way to lead others in a small group setting in worship, but I am not going to produce an album or go on tour anytime soon. Am I called to be a graphic designer or web developer? No. It may pay some of the bills at specific times, but I cannot devote time to that endeavor. Am I going to be a professional photographer? At one point I really did think I could have been a wildlife or even a surfing event photographer. But no, I am not called in that direction. But this brings up an interesting point:
It may not be a top priority, but it is something I enjoy doing, so it can never distract me from my focus, but it can be an outlet, to relax, have fun, and photograph nature, events, or surfing / other sports. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that is why we must prioritize what we do an when we do it.
“Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.”
(Proverbs 4:26, NKJV)
Priorities Within Priorities
So, through prayer and through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, others also agreeing, my calling is ministry. But of that LONG list of ministry and things to do within ministry, what should come first? What should come second? I must prioritize within priorities. The proverb tells us to “ponder the path…” Think about the path I am on. Make sure that individual “projects” do not overwhelm and occupy my time so much that I leave what is important and focus on what the enemy can use as a roadblock to keep us from being productive. The Apostles ran into a similar problem in the book of Acts. They had a spiritual ministry and a practical. The Apostles made a priority of the word of God, even though there was a great need to serve those who were hungry and neglected. They solved their dilemma in the following way:
“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said,
“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. …” (Acts 6:1–5, NKJV)
Their priority was the word of God. But they also had a desire to bless the people, so their next priority was to ensure that they were taken care of and blessed. This was done through delegation. That truly is pondering your path, making the right prioritized choice, and still making sure that others were loved and served.
This is not easy to accomplish, by the way. Especially for a person who wants to maintain control over the organization rather than pondering their path. If you ponder your path, you will “let all your ways be established.” When we as leaders learn and are confident in who we are and what we are called to do, things will work out because this allows the Holy Spirit to work and therefore, God receives the glory. It is not about US, or OUR, ministry. It becomes about Him and about how He works in each of our hearts to bring about the glory of God.
“Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.”
(Proverbs 4:27, NKJV)
Do Not Go Off The Path
The last bit of advice is to not veer away from your calling. It really does fit into the first part. Know your calling and walk in it. Understand who you are and how you fit into what God is doing. Have confidence in who Christ has made you to be. That means that our first confidence should be that Jesus has saved us. Our salvation is so very important. If we lose confidence that Christ has saved us, is saving us, and will save us, then our faith will crumble, and any hope of a calling will diminish greatly. The second confidence is that Christ has called you to something specific. There is nothing worse than wondering around as a believer not knowing what you are supposed to do. Every farmer has a task, every contractor knows their job, every soldier obeys orders from his commander. It dangerous for any of these to be idle, and so for every Christian that aimlessly wonders through life. You must seek the Lord until you are assured of what God wants you to do. He has a task for everyone. Idleness is the devil’s playground. A farmer cannot harvest, a contractor cannot build, a solider cannot win the battle without knowing what to do. The third confidence is walking in righteousness. This one is important, and an entire post could be, and may at some point, could be written about it.
We must learn to have confidence in the grace, mercy, and peace of Jesus Christ. When we keep from going right or left, and remove our feet from evil, then our confidence is God’s work in us rises to new heights. Perhaps it is because we are walking close to God, perhaps it is because we feel more worthy, whatever it is, we have to live in such a way that keeps us in our calling. When others see this, they will also have confidence. They will follow and learn to walk in their own calling either within the ministry to which you have been called or branch out on their own.
Keep your eyes straight ahead, looking unto Jesus, the author, and the finisher of your faith. Think clearly and confidently about the path He has you on and see it grow and flourish. Walk in all His ways, doing that which is right in His sight all to the glory of God!
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