Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Have you heard of video gamers who are known as “completionists”? These are the most thorough players, not satisfied until they’ve completed every quest and unlocked every riddle, even if not required to beat the game.

Maybe you can relate to my compulsion to make to-do lists and compulsively try to complete—and cross off, every task I insisted was truly important to my life. I never got to the end of a list because time doesn’t slow down for completionists and to-do listers. Jesus calls me to move on.

Many of us hold on to our personal goals at the cost of following Jesus wholeheartedly. Jesus asked His disciples to literally walk away from their jobs, unfinished. If you love your own work-in-progress more than you love where God is trying to lead you, you will stay chained to your own ambition and selfishness without recognizing their inferior worth.

When Jesus calls us to serve Him, there are no prerequisites. You don’t need to finish your other project. There will always be unfinished business, even if continuing in our jobs and hobbies is part of God’s plan for us.

God has something better for you than winning every possible earthly prize, especially if those prizes are material things and status that fade with time.  Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).  It’s more than safe to surrender your unrealized dreams to what God has for your life today.

 

Resource reading: Luke 9:23-27