Follow Your Dreams - Or Maybe Not!!!
You don’t have to look far to see a poster, or some digital display, or a post on social media urging you “To Follow Your Dreams”. It is such an ubiquitous catch phrase now that within education systems around the world, children are given the opportunity to sit there and think about what they could become, or what they want out of life - and because they do not know what life is really like they come up with these grandiose dreams - which their teachers then turn around and say “Aim for that…if that’s your dream”.
But when we talk about ‘dreams’, we aren’t talking about what we experience in our sleep, or some divinely inspired vision - rather what is really meant by ‘dreams’ are ‘aspirations’. Aspirations are strong desires of a person to achieve great things, or things that the person finds exciting and interesting. Really they are our ambitions in life.
But I ask you these questions…
Is the pursuit of personal dreams more harmful than good?
Is the pursuit of personal dreams even biblical in their foundation?
The short answers to both those questions are:
Yes, it is more harmful than good…
And no, its not…
But let’s look at why. Both the answers are linked because the harm is caused by the phrases lack of biblical foundations.
Firstly, let’s consider the words of Jesus himself when he clearly states in John 14:6a “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” This is a statement of truth and of authority. The greater context of this statement can be found in the remainder of that verse, where it says “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6b). While this initially seems like a reference to the reestablishment of a relationship between humanity and Yahweh (and it is), it is also Jesus painting out that HIS way is the only way, because it leads to the Kingdom of God - and the Kingdom of God is the highest authority. This means that HIS instructions have more authority and weight to them when compared to our personal desires and dreams.
What influences us in creating our dreams, what drives our desires. The Apostle Paul in speaking to the church in Corinth identified a key point when he said, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11). Paul’s statement is insightful and should stir in us a moment of self reflection. What do we carry from our childhood into our adulthood. What sort of attitudes, actions, desires and ambitions do we still cling to in our adulthood, because they are familiar to us and we are used to them. It is these very childish things that influence our dreams and our desires - not the things of mature adults who are living for the Kingdom of God.
If God speaks to you about something HE would like you to do…say setting up a food bank for the needy in your community, or visiting the elderly in aged care homes, or building a skatepark for the youth to have something to do - then those are noble things. But they aren’t your dreams…they are divine instructions that speak to your spirit and your mind…and when you act on them you are acting in obedience to God, and not your own desires. However, if you have ‘dreams’ about becoming a well known influencer (even if it is a Christian influencer), or a very influential and wealthy business person (even if you seed into the Kingdom of God), or a famous musician, or whatever your dream is…and you strive to achieve that dream, and it takes all your energy, all your effort, all your time, all your thoughts - you have to ask yourself - IS THAT ACTUALLY FROM GOD??? Has God actually laid that on your heart, or is that your own flesh coming up with what it wants to experience?
In reality, how much of our time, effort, finances and thoughts are taken up with our own desires and ambitions - in essence “Following Our Dream”. Perhaps in this New Year, you set aside your goals and dreams and search for what God wants you to do for HIS kingdom. Perhaps by laying down those very dreams, God will give you new one’s. Perhaps HE will give you dreams and a direction that will ultimately be more fulfilling than you could even imagine, and will have a greater impact on the world around you. Take time at the beginning of this year to truly think and gauge the direction you are going in…is it your direction…or is it God’s direction???