"My Aim."

by E.Stockwell | Category: General | Feb 1936

Those who have had experience with the work of the Lord in the matter of preaching the gospel to old or young can enter into the truth of those words "One soweth, and another reapeth" (John 4. 37). Very often it is so; but why it should be so we cannot say; it appears to be one of those truths of Scripture which we just have to accept by faith, not being able to fully understand why it should be so.

However, we can rest assured of this, that though we ofttimes may not know the reason for such, nor be allowed to reason "why? " One who knoweth all things will reward according to each man's work whether it be sowing or reaping.

When we stand before the judgement seat of Christ, faithfulness even in the smallest things will be taken into account, also the Spirit in which we have acted; for example, humility in our work will be taken into account. Motives and many other important matters will also be taken into account. Are these virtues ours?

To have an aim before us seems to be most necessary to progress. A man without an aim in life is like a man without a hope, or like a ship without a rudder-drifting. Nothing at which to aim ! no definite point in life ! how sad

Here and now may we each ask ourselves-What is my objective? What am I living for? What is my aim?

David had a definite aim before him, it was to build a house for God, and he set his heart to prepare some of the necessary materials-cedar wood, precious stones, gold, silver, brass and iron. For as David said, "the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries." We see something of the inner working of his heart from the following words-" I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God " (1 Chronicles 29. 2). " I have set my affection to the house of my God " (1 Chronicles 29. 3). But whether it be in connection -with the house of God specially, or in other departments of the Lord's work, what the Lord desires of us all is our affections, and an aim-to attempt something for Him.

In Ezra's day we read of "all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of the LORD" (Ezra 1. 5). Then we think of the desire and aim of Nehemiah in his troublous days. When he heard that the city, the place of his father's sepulchres lay waste and the gates thereof were consumed with fire, he made request to the king of his time, that he might go and build it (see Nehemiah 2. 3-5).

It is men of such calibre God is wanting to-day amongst us. Men whose hearts have been stirred by God and who will attempt something: men with an aim before them: men with their affections towards Himself and His house.

Paul was such a man; and what a power he was! It is well for each of us to take note of that great aim he had regarding the preaching of the gospel as recorded in Romans 15. 20., "Yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation;

But, as it is written,

They shall see, to whom no tidings of Him came,

And they who have not heard shall understand."

The Apostle Paul's journeys to Athens, Ephesus and other important places were not just casual visits as it were, in some haphazard way, but, were the outcome of exercise, and formed part of that aim he had ever before him- "to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named." Oh that we as individuals were stirred in our own hearts and had such desires as Paul, David, Ezra, and Nehemiah. May we again ask ourselves the question- "WHAT IS MY AIM ? "

May we set our minds and hearts on something definite to accomplish for the Lord in our own lifetime, having 2 Corinthians 5. 9 ever before us- "Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto Him."

E.Stockwell | Feb 1936
General