“The goal of the American Dream is to make much of us, but the goal of the gospel is to make much of God” David Platt - Radical. I don’t disagree with this statement, but I don’t fully agree with it either. In the past and even today the American Dream was about obtaining the most things before we die, in hopes our families would be happy and financially secure after we pass. The focus was on what we wanted and not what God wanted, and for most this holds true today. Where I find a problem with this statement and Platt’s book is his conclusion is that you cannot pursue the American Dream and Jesus at the same time.
Now I may be skeptical to Platt’s conclusion because I do work in for profit business, but not all Christian business men and women are all about themselves when pursuing the American Dream. There may be times in our lives where we wanted something for ourselves and God denied that opportunity to remind us who’s in charge. But I also do believe the same happens for missionaries and pastors. They wanted to visit a specific country or be a preacher for a specific church for various reasons, and God denies it because that isn’t where God wanted them to be at that point in time.
Platt’s conclusion also means that you cannot spread the gospel and give glory to God if you are pursuing the American Dream. I will say it’s easy to lose your focus and pursue your own goals, but if you do pray and have a close relationship with God, he will always put you back on track when you forget who’s in charge and what led to your success. When I get a promotion I know it’s something I am receiving because of the talents and gifts God has provided to me and I give praise to Him. When I don’t get the promotion I know it just wasn’t in God’s will. My motto has always been “All is as God wills it.”
I also believe the American Dream has changed over the years. In the past it was about owning a house, having lots of money, and having lots of things. For most now the American Dream means to not live paycheck to paycheck. I am not saying God cannot provide, but there is a fine line between taking care of yourself and your family and allowing God to provide. The question is where do you draw that line? I do believe that once you get to the point of being financially stable and not living paycheck to paycheck, and you keep pursing more money you may have lost focus on God.
An article that was posted a few years ago said that once a household reaches a certain threshold in income they don’t become any happier. Depending on where you live that dollar amount varies, but continuing to pursue those positions and salaries beyond this point may mean you have starting focusing on yourself and what you want. Once you stop living paycheck to paycheck you are able to give more to others and have more time to spread the gospel and pursue Jesus because you aren’t working to make ends meet. If you haven’t transitioned over to that lifestyle once you have reached that point, you may have stopped pursing God.
Have I reached that point yet? I don’t think so but I do feel my life is transitioning, because I do spend more time going to church, reading the gospel, giving time to others, and spending more time with my brother/sisters in Christ. Am I perfect and do it all the time? Heck no, but I do feel and see God working in and through me. I used to bring my work home with me on the weekends so I could get ahead, but I stopped because I found it not only affected my relationship with my wife, but with God as well. Now I don’t even bring my work home with me on weekdays unless it’s absolutely necessary. My time at work is for work and my time at home is for my family and God. Work helps to pay the bills and enables me to give where I can, but I can always find another job. I can never find another family or better God. Again, I am not perfect but I feel that God is working through me while I pursue Him and my definition of the American Dream.
You don’t need to have money to help spread the gospel and pursue Jesus, so please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. The fact that Jesus and the apostles, who were beyond poor, were able to spread the good news is all the proof I need. Today, people feel that if you don’t have money and a good life you aren’t living right with God, but that thought has no validity whatsoever. But knowing what God has provided for you and what you want is tough. If we were perfect we would know, but the fact is that we are not and only through complete surrender to God will we know.
David Platt’s book Radical is a great book about refocusing Americans back to the real reason why we are here. I agree with most of his points in the book, but to say pursing the American Dream isn’t possible if you are pursing God is a stretch. The point he may be trying to make is that if your focus is pursing the American Dream all the time, then you have lost focus of what we should be pursing. It’s a slippery slope if you ever pursue other things rather than God, but keeping the proper perspective and God in your life should help you from falling off track.
In conclusion, God works through His people in mysterious ways. It’s not for us to understand His reasons behind what He is doing. It’s for us to find out if we are doing His will or ours. If it is His will then continue your walk, if it’s your own you may want to refocus your goals and desires. All earthly things wither and rust away, but God’s love will never fade. Platt’s strongest point in the book is a message Paul wrote in the bible. “We are in debt to the world to spread the good news, and if we are not making good use of our time we may fail those who need God most.” Pursue God first and let Him take care of everything else. Being rich in God is better than being rich in life.
Praise always to God!
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