2 Corinthians 5:9 says: “Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present of absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (NKJV). Here the Apostle declares the aim (or goal) of his life: to be well pleasing to God.
What are you goals in life? To experience romance. To attain academic excellence. To have a house, 2.5 kids, and a dog named Spot. To make a million dollars. To be the best at whatever you do. To achieve fame and/or significance. What is your life’s aim—what are you shooting for?
For the Apostle it is rather simple: to please God.
What I immediately notice is the unselfishness of his goal. It’s not about getting stuff, proving something, living up to someone else, or being better than the rest. He simply hopes that his life will be pleasing to God. But he doesn’t just hope. He makes it his mission, his passion, his life’s work.
Is your goal in life to please God? Does it wake you up in the morning, lay you down at night, and govern who you are in between? What you do with your time—does it please God? What you do with your money—does it please God? What you eat and drink—does it please God? What you say to your coworkers—does it please God? How you treat your spouse—does it please God? Have you made it your aim to please God?
Sadly, most of us just try to please ourselves.
Making it our goal to please God is not easy. But three verses might be an asset in this discussion. The first is Hebrews 11:6 which says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” The second is 1 John 5:3 which says: “This is love for God: to obey His commands” (NIV).
And the third is found in John 2 in a record of the events surrounding Jesus’ first miracle. It’s during a wedding feast. Unfortunately, the wedding-planner has failed to secure enough wine for the party (a pretty big social fax paux in 1st century Israel), and Mary asks Jesus to solve the problem.
Interestingly enough, Jesus doesn’t seem real keen on doing this but yields to his mother’s request, asking the servants to fill six large vats with water. When they look at Him with confusion Mary says to the servants “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5 NIV). Enabled by their obedience, Jesus turns the water into wine.
It’s a simple statement, yet profound in our discussion. Do you want to make it your life’s goal to please God? Then do whatever He tells you.
