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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: I have many goals in life that haven’t come to fruition no matter how hard I’ve worked. Is Jesus’ goal for mankind different from what we’ve imagined? All of the conferences I go to tell me that we should strive for the abundant life that God promises – the fulfillment of our ambitions. – O.G.

 

Dear O.G.: King George V wrote on the flyleaf of the Bible of a friend, “The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.”

Too many think of happiness as a discovery by relentless searching. Happiness isn’t found by seeking. It’s not an end in itself. Pots of gold are never found at the end of the rainbow as children may imagine; mining gold is complex.

Jesus once told His disciples, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV). The “things” He spoke of were the basic needs of life: food, water, clothes, and shelter. He told us not to make these the chief goal of our lives but to “seek the kingdom” and these needs would be automatically supplied. And if for some reason only He knows they should be withheld, know that it is for our good and His glory.

God measures people by the small dimension of humility and not by the bigness of their achievements or the size of their capabilities. The most important thing in life for everyone is to make Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Creeds and status will not save us. Salvation is in Christ alone. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12, NKJV). This is the only position that matters in life that brings us into eternity with Him.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)