Flourish here

Numbers 34:1, 2 "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders)...""

This is an idea that is almost as foreign as arranged marriage to our American culture. God basically told Israel that "this" set of borders shall define your land and no more. Later under the kings the borders became more fluid, and it can be argued that the people of Israel never really did possess the land deeded to them by God. The point that I want to make is that God never seemed to intend Israel to make an expansive empire. Americans seem to think that if it seems possible to have more then it is God's will for me to have it. History students will instantly connect with this the philosophy of manifest destiny that defined American expansionist policy, but while this may present itself in American foreign policy it is more pervasive in our personal decisions. I think of this when my fellow-parents describe how busy they are with their kids between soccer, dance, piano, and other activities. It seems that while there is a chance to add on things to do, we just keep adding them on because we can. The same goes with the opportunity to increase income, or education. I write this with a bit of self-condemnation because I am sitting here in class knowing that my kids won’t see me tonight.

The question I constantly ask myself is whether my expansion of my personal empire is really God’s call on my life. It is necessary that I remember that, just like any of Israel’s expansions, any expansions for me come at some cost to someone. In my case I see my wife and children suffer from the fact that I am gone quite often for the benefit of my education. I assuage my guilt by remembering that I chose a shorter route that I had initially intended, but it is still true that I feel that I have abandoned my family for my education. I could not do this without my family’s support, but it is also true that they are all suffering. For this reason I am delaying any decision on further education after I finish school in 250 days. I want to assess my family’s needs at that time and determine how I can best meet those needs.

The problem, I think, is not how busy we are, but why. Many of our activities are good, but not necessary to fulfill our personal missions from God. Many of my friends expand their “territory” because they can. That promotion at work, educational opportunity, or sports program for our kids can be made to work with our lives, but just because it is possible doesn’t mean that it is the right thing. God gave a specific mission to the nation of Israel- occupy the land I gave you and take of it so that I can make it flourish. God has given each of us a mission for our lives, and it is not to fill every moment of our lives so that we can make more money or keep our families as busy as possible. Even as busy as my life is I have been led by the Lord to evaluate my moments with my family to make them fulfill my mission to disciple my wife and kids as effectively as possible. Even so, I must also evaluate my moments away from home for those opportunities to reach into their lives because they are my mission. This doesn’t mean that I will take you aside, like some well-meaning friends did for me when I first started my education, and tell you that you cannot fulfill God’s will for your family if you add this thing on. I cannot tell you what God has called you to do, but I can remind you that we need to stay on mission and support you if you believe you are. Not only do we need to stay on mission, but we need to do well too.