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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Personal Problems (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 57. Finding the Life-plan.
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Finding the Life-plan.
The great question of finding out the life-plan has puzzled a great many, and should have a special word here. The fact that there is a life-plan for every one, and that God is naturally eager to tell it so that it may be carried out, clears the ground very much. The man who wants to know can know, without any doubt. Hundreds of young people are facing the question of giving their lives to the great, needy, foreign mission fields. There, without any question, is the greatest need, and there too is the greatest privilege of service. And in addition to that are the great home mission fields, and the church ministry. In our day there is a great call for many sorts of workers in addition to the ordained ministry.
The general plan for all followers of Jesus is that they shall go. The general marching orders to all who hear His voice are a plain, imperative "Go." The early disciples so understood and went. In foreign mission lands there is a spirit akin to that of these early disciples. In Korea to-day they are going everywhere in the same way. Whenever there is a spirit of awakening in the Church there is always a spirit of awakening to this ringing call to go. Whenever the Spirit of God gets sway in a man's life, among the other marked characteristics, is a new, yearning earnestness to take the message of Jesus to the far-off peoples who have had no word of it.
But in addition to the general marching order is the particular personal order. The Master has made plain His plan for His Church; it is to go. He makes plain His plan for each member of His Church where he is to go. The whole scheme is mapped out by the Lord of the harvest, and each one's place in the scheme, too. And while all may go in a very real sense to those neediest fields by prayer and money and earnest sentiment-making, some are not to go there personally, but to stay here. The great thing is to be where the Master has planned.
How shall a man know that plan for himself? He should aim to gather all available information, weigh and balance it carefully, and wait quietly upon God, both in prayer and in the spirit of his life, with a full, eager willingness to go far or stay near, to be wholly in religious service or a volunteer with other duties, as the plan may be. He that is willing to go shall know. He should inform himself about the great world-fields. That is very easily done to-day. The Student Volunteer Movement and the Young People's Movement have brought the information close home in very easy shape.
He ought to think about his own abilities and special gifts. These gifts and talents are gifts from God, and so a trust. One should think soberly of what he can do, and cannot do, that he may know his responsibility, and meet it. Some sensible friend or two, sympathetic with you and with the needs, can be of real service here, to help you get an impartial view, while the decision must rest with yourself. The circumstances of one's life must be considered, and the home responsibilities. I know a young man who burned with the desire to go to a foreign field. But it was very plain to him that he should not leave home; he was needed there. There was a deep twinge of regret as the situation cleared to him; but no element of doubt. Clearly it was so planned for him. And he has since been used graciously in every mission land while yet remaining home. That is the story of very many who have discerned clearly the plan, and gladly fitted into it.
All this one should gather up: facts about the world-need; about himself, with friends to help get the undue personal coloring out; about his circumstances; and the strong inward impulse. These should be sifted and weighed unhurriedly, and balanced, and time spent in quiet prayer alone with God over His word. So a man will come to know with the certainty that steadies all his coming service. And he will always know in time. But he must not be hurried; he may decide quickly but he must not decide hurriedly.