As we continue to look at your pursuit of purpose and how money factors into that search, let's look at the story of Hagar after Abraham evicted her and their son from his home:
Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink (Genesis 21:14-19).
Hagar found herself abandoned in the wilderness desert. We all know what a desert is like: hot in the day, cold at night, with little food or water available. Hagar was convinced that, once their water ran out, her son was doomed to die a slow death—as was she. It was in the midst of her grief that the Lord broke in and spoke to her, promising that her son would not die but would rather become a great nation. After God directed her to take the boy by the hand, God opened her eyes and there she saw a well of water. My question is: Did that well suddenly and miraculously appear from heaven, or was it there all along?
HER WELL
My own sense is that the well was there all along but Hagar could not see it. Why couldn't she see it? She was blind to its existence because of her thinking. After all, they were in the desert where everyone knows there's no water, so she couldn't see or even think to look for some. It's not that God had to heal her eyes, for there was nothing physically wrong with them. God had to change her thinking before she could see what was right in front of her all along. And God may need to do the same for you—change your thinking that is.
Maybe you're thinking that you need a church or a company to care for you if you're going to fulfill your purpose, and God may indeed choose to provide through them. Yet like Hagar, you may have something right in front of you that God can use to provide that you can't see.
YOUR WELL
I've loved to write since I was a child. I wrote my first book in 1995 when I was 45 years old and as of today, I have published nearly 100 books. Any author knows it's difficult to make a living just from their books sales. One day I was complaining to God about my meager sales when He asked, "Who said you have to sell them?" That opened my eyes to see my books as a ministry tool that I could give away, and God could and would provide the money to do so from other means. God changed my thinking.
Then in 2014, I started my publishing company, Urban Press. Since then, I have helped 125 authors publish their books and they often pay me to do so. My point is that I make more money from publishing than I do writing and selling my own books. God used something right in front or me, my love of writing, and changed my role from author to publisher to provide for my needs. As an added bonus, my son has partnered with me in the publishing business and it's been a blessing to work with him.
What are the implications of Hagar's and my story for you? Where is there a well right in front of you but you can't see it? Where is your thinking preventing you from seeing something God can use to supply your needs? Where have what I call 'poverty thoughts' caused you to be blinded to your riches in Christ as you pursue purpose?
The good news is that God wants to open your eyes. He did it for Hagar and she didn't even ask, so He will do it for you when you make the request, "Open my eyes, Lord, to see what I am not seeing!" There's a well of opportunity right in front of you like there was for Hagar, but you need to stop lamenting or limiting your situation and allow God to open your eyes to see new opportunities. Have a blessed week!
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