I Did It On Purpose

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may attain it."

1 Corinthians 9:24

This verse screams one word at me: Intentional. It means to be "done consciously," "fully considered," "not impulsive," "done or acting in a careful or unhurried way." For me, that carries a lot of weight with it, because, quite honestly, I am not a person of intention.

I'm from New York. New Yorkers are always going somewhere. We often don't know where we are going or why, but by Jove, we're going there! I guess if you look like you know what you're doing, nobody will question you. I know so many people back home who are constantly moving but never necessarily doing anything. They had no intent, no purpose. I was one of them. I allowed myself to become so caught up in the rat race that I lost my vision. Even though at the end of the day I was tired and worn out from the nonstop activity, I felt useless. What value was there in what I was doing? I could point to a number of noble causes that I was involved in and most people would have said that I was mature young person but the truth remained that there was no intent behind by motions. I was aimlessly living and allowing life to happen to me. Let me tell you, that will drain the life out of you. . .fast!

I think one of my main issues with being intentional is in the definition. In order to intentionally do something, one has to carefully and fully consider it and approach it in an unhurried way. That means that you know what you're getting into. You've weighed the cost and determined that it is worth it. Being intentional holds the implications of commitments. Jesus said that whoever puts his hand to the plow and turns back is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven. In Luke 14:28-32, He says,

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down and first count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build a tower and was not able to finish it.' Or what king, going to war with another king, does not sit down and first consider whether he is able to with 10,000 meet him who comes against him with 20,000? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation an asks for conditions of peace."

So should my life be, intentional and committed. No one wins a race on accident. I want to run this race of faith in such a way that I might attain the prize.