Intentional Challenge

John Sweetman

Well this is my final article on intentionality. I hope that you’ve heard the message that we can’t just let life happen. God calls us to be stewards of the resources he gives us and that means intentional effort.

You can see this in the parable Jesus told about the guys who were given “talents” (Matt. 25:14-30). The issue was not how many talents people were given but whether they used them intentionally. Burying them was not an option. God expects a return. He won’t accept our excuses.

Now of course grace lies at the bottom of all of this. It’s not that we earn God’s approval by using our time and resources well. Grace is God’s unconditional gift. But there’s no doubt that God pours out his grace and resources on us for a purpose, and he’s looking to see that purpose fulfilled through a combination of our effort and his power.

God is immensely pleased when the sacrificial offering of your life involves a new commitment to make the most of all the opportunities and resources God provides for you. You will only achieve this through intentional effort and discipline (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

So don’t be lazy or half-hearted. The time is short and the opportunities immense. Ask God what he wants you to do and pursue it with all your heart.