Chasing the Prize

Most young parents are totally stressed out trying to do it all, e.g.,

-Getting established in their career(s)
-Getting a bigger house
-Finding some down-time to relax
-And the demands of young kids at every turn (!)
-On and on

That was certainly the case for us when we were starting out. Linda was striving to be the best mom and wife that she could be; I was striving to provide for the family, wrestle with building a career, and be something of a good father and husband with what was left over.

The age-old question about “how much is enough” resurfaced this past week when I was reading Chapter 4 in the book of Daniel. Right in mid-sentence while King Nebuchadnezar is gloating over his greatness, God humiliates him and drives him away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field for 7 years.

Daniel 4:32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

If it is God who chooses who will be king, who will have great riches, and who will not, why do I sometimes strive so hard to chase after the so-called prizes of this world? While I am also called to “work as serving the Lord rather than men (Ephesians 6:7),” it’s the striving and chasing part that I am focusing on here.

What are some of the “prizes of life” that you are chasing right now? Will they matter an iota in heaven one day? The Apostle Paul was certainly concerned about running a race pleasing to God:

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

Years ago, there was a simple story that was frequently told about a track and field relay-team that won their event by crossing the finish line first. In the end, however, they were disqualified because the last team member did not cross the finish line with their baton in hand. Somewhere along the way, it had been lost or dropped.

The objective of the race is to get the baton across the finish line first instead of the runner. The spectators watch the progress of the runners whereas the judges watch the journey of each baton.

Chasing the prize in life is equally subtle with the baton. All of us are competing here on earth while watching what other people are doing, the homes that they live in, the cars that they drive, the degrees hanging on their office walls, and the prestige amidst their peers including us. We are acutely aware if someone else seems to be ahead of us in the chase for all of these worldly things.

All the while, God has his eyes fixed on the batons that matter to him– our hearts, for nothing else concerns him more.

As I begin a new day of work, I’m wondering how much of my efforts today will have at least a touch of eternity woven within them. The love that I show my family today most certainly has a check-mark in the eternity column. Performing my trade or profession today with excellence and precision counts too in so far as we are to live disciplined lives and work as serving the Lord rather than men.

Whatever else I do this day, I pray that it will inch my heart just a little closer to God’s finish line wherein one day I will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”