Castles in the Air
“If only I could get a better job!” “If only I had a different spouse!” “If only we had a better Bible-teaching church!” “If only I had pursued that degree!” “If only my health was better!” “If only I could… maybe then, things would be different.”
If you are an “if only” person, then things will remain “if only.” The circumstances of your life will stay the same, and you will slowly grow discontent living in a world of wishful thinking.
So many of God’s children wait for perfect or better conditions to walk by faith. 17th century Fenelon writes: “We must be bound to seek our sanctification in that state wherein Providence has placed us, rather than to build castles in the air concerning great possible virtue in positions we do not fill.”
Secondly, he writes: “We need very diligent faithfulness to God in the smallest things. Most people spend the best part of their life in avowing and regretting their habits, in talking about changing them; in making rules for a future time which they look for, but which is not given to them; and in thereby losing time which ought to be spent in good works.”
Since we do not know what tomorrow brings, we should live each day as if it were our last, using all our energies to serve the Lord. If what we are doing does not bring us closer to God, then it is all in vain.
Fenelon closes his thoughts with this appeal: “Ask Him to uphold you, lest you fall. Entreat Him to perfect His work in you as you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. He does not require great things for success. Let us, therefore, do what we know He requires of us, and so soon as we perceive his will in anything. Let there be no drawing back, only absolute faithfulness. Such faithfulness ought not merely to lead us to do great things for His service, but whatever our hand finds to do, do with all our might.”
Remember, the smallest things become great when God requires them of us; knowing that it is done for Him to lead others to Him, we can find joy in the ordinary, seemingly insignificant tasks. A soul that sincerely longs for God never considers whether a thing is small or great. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is also unjust in much.
Recommended Reading: Ancient Paths by J.C. Ryle 1853
