Leadership

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One of life’s most perplexing questions, asked for generations by seekers: “What am I supposed to do with my life?” The answer holds special importance for those who truly wish to make a difference in the world. Yet, with the online noise of the entire planet’s values digitally transmitted into every family’s living room, traditional role models and sources of guidance often get drowned out in the information tsunami. Where is the rock that stands firm in the rapidly changing currents of modern life? Where should the next generation look for direction? What ARE you supposed to do with your life? In confusing situations, as always, one of the best places to start looking for answers is in Scripture.

Most people consider Christ’s declaration to DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU (Matthew 7:13) as an exhortation not to lie, steal, kill or otherwise hurt people in ways that they do not want to be hurt. Yet, this is not another “thou shalt not.” We have been commanded to DO. In DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU, God has unequivocally instructed all of us to take affirmative action. For everyone in the world who wants clarity on what God wants them to DO with their life, this “action commandment” directly addresses just that. Furthermore, our instruction from God to take action flows from our greatest priority.

The greatest commandment in all of Christianity can be found in Matthew 22:37: LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. Heart, soul, mind. It speaks to an inner, personal relationship with God. Clearly, developing that inner relationship constitutes the most important thing we can do with our time. As Christ said, it is the first and greatest commandment, plain and simple.

Significantly, immediately after conveying the greatest commandment, Christ followed up with the second greatest commandment: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF, a clear reference to His earlier instruction to DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU. So, while developing our inner relationship with God is the first and greatest commandment, the second greatest commandment deals with this outer relationship with others. It deals with what we do in the world, our actions. Just how important are these actions toward others? ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS HANG ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS (Matthew 22:40).

So, taken in this context, we know that those outer actions should flow from our inner relationship with God. From the love of God. From the love of what is good in the world. The spirit behind our greatest actions comes from the Spirit of God, with whom we have that personal relationship. Which brings us back to your question: what specifically are you supposed to DO with your life? God’s answer provides more specific guidance than you may think.

First, look at what it does not say. The action commandment does not say “feed the homeless.” It does not say “teach orphans to read.” It doesn’t even say “do the same things Jesus did,” i.e., fight sickness, put politicians in their place, reach out to sinners, etc. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU. The action commandment speaks directly to YOU, as well as every other individual. God’s direction for you differs from the path for your neighbor, which differs from the path of your pastor, which differs from that of your best friend. Whatever your greatest path may hold, it relates to something personal to YOU. Your mission is unique. Let’s now go deeper.

The action commandment has three components: DO…unto OTHERS…what YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU. Accordingly, if you truly want to discover specifically what to do with your life:

1) Identify what YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO FOR YOU.
2) Identify the OTHERS in the world who need the same thing done for them.
3) DO it for them.

Does this sound trite? Forced? Way too simple?

Everyone has a most painful experience of their life. A particular deprivation. A particular trauma. Something heartbreaking and unfair. You certainly have. You know what it is, too. If you have the courage, you will say it aloud. How old were you? What life situation were you in then? How were you hurt? It has slithered through the shadows of your daily life ever since. Pull it into the light. Identify it. Give it a name. Write it down. Good.

Now, where might you find a population that suffers from similar unfortunate circumstances? Within a group of people of the same age you were? In a neighborhood or school with similar disadvantages? In a family situation with identical stresses? Like identifying your worst experience, this should not be difficult. God even tells us where to start: locally, with our NEIGHBORS. Both your surrounding community and the world at large teem with people who have suffered the same thing you had to endure. Your real challenge lies within the third and final step: providing for them.

Providing for them requires you to face your own pain. To acknowledge what you still believe to be your shortcomings. To free the locked-down emotions you have carried for so long. Yet, you must do all of these, for both you and the world will receive the most amazing rewards.

Your negative experience provides you incredible insight into a problem that the majority of other people struggle to understand. The seething emotion you feel can be the most powerful motivation anyone could ever hope to possess. Thus, you can naturally excel at something that other people find difficult, if not impossible, to handle. Finally accepting the negative experience as a genuine chapter in your overall life moves you closer to the excellence you seek. To the emotional integration you need. To the redemption you never believed was possible. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU. A number of people desperately need the inspiring, unique help that only you can provide. DO for them and you will see the perfect beauty of the action commandment. Doing for others what you would have others do for you channels your deepest feelings, facilitates worldly success and restores both your inner and outer realms to what God wishes for us all.

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