https://odb.org/2025/06/26/priorities-for-christ
Mark 1:35–39 (NIV): 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
To be able to say that I decline this offer because God wants me to do something else or wants me to be some place else requires sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, courage, and faith. This is because most of us will treat an open door as a sign that God wants us to go there. Of course, if we have a few open doors, we will weigh our options and choose the opening that gives us the maximum benefit in terms of exposure, experience, skill development, travel convenience and income. Yet actually, the most important deciding factor remains where the Lord wants us to be.
We can pray and ask the Lord to guide us specifically if a few doors are opened or if we should decline one opened door to remain where we are. Or we could move in a trajectory that gives us the freedom and flexibility to exercise our faith and continue to serve Him. For example, there was once in my career, I was offered an opportunity to interview for a vacant senior legal position in Genting. First, working for a gaming company was not really in line with my faith. Secondly, the job required me to work at least one weekend and a Sunday at the hill for management meetings. That would have hampered my freedom to attend Sunday worship services (that was before the advent of Zoom) and serve God in music. Thus, as much as the rewards may prove significant, I had to decline the opportunity to pitch for the job.
My example above was a dilemma I faced but was nevertheless a no-brainer in terms of choice. In life, there could be more difficult choices to make. For instance, if we are given an opportunity that meets most of our hopes and expectations in the natural, and yet we hear a prompting in our heart from the Holy Spirit to let it go. There are no obvious contradictions, but the Spirit says God has other plans for us. Will we still decline the opportunity, or will we heed the Spirit’s voice? Do we go for our own ambitions, or we fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives for that season?
Very early one morning, Jesus retracted Himself away from the crowds to a solitary and quiet place to pray. He knew He needed to do that, although everyone expected Him to continue ministering to the crowds. The latter seemed obvious, but Jesus knew God wanted Him to go to some place quiet to pray and perhaps recharge Himself. And as much as the crowds were looking for Him, He decided to travel to somewhere else, to the nearby villages so that He could preach there as well. Jesus said that was why He came. In other words, He changed course based on the leading of the Spirit – but always keeping His main objective in mind.
For us, whatever choices come our way, whether it’s a job or a ministry opportunity or an invitation to preach, we should only choose as the Holy Spirit leads, remembering that we are to fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our life. If we follow this principle, we will have a fruitful and effective spiritual life, a life where our life in the narural will not contradict or hinder but will complement and support our spiritual goals and objectives!
Ronnie's Thoughts 