3 Steps to determine the difference between intention and direction.

There’s a huge difference between intention and direction. Because intention never actually gets us to our desired destination. That is, until we stop, and change our direction.

Imagine reading a story, and in every chapter the main character described all the things he intended to achieve in his or her life.

• Chapter 1, the relationships he or she intends on building.
• Chapter 2, the neighbours and coworkers that he or she intends on serving.
• Chapter 3, the volunteering he or she intends on doing at church or charity.
• Chapter 4, the impact he or she intends on having on community, or the maybe the world?

On and on and on it goes; intention after intention after intention, until the last chapter. An old man or woman sitting in a chair, with regret and remorse on what could have been. Only then does the main character realize that although their life’s story was full of good intentions, their entire life was lived for self.

They finally realized the difference between intention and direction.

That intention never got them to their desired destination. At some point, the main character should have changed the direction of his life. He or she should have decided to stop living for self, and write a better story.

What if we all decided to stop living for self? What if we all decided to change the direction of our lives? What if we all decided to write a better story?

Paul’s writing to the Philippian Church can help us do just that.

Step 1: Start with Jesus

Our ability to stop living for self can’t be empowered by self. We need a pure external source, becoming internal through faith; the person and power of Jesus Christ.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Philippians 2:1-2

Paul’s call to embrace the “encouragement in Christ” is followed up by the comfort, love, and participation, in which the Spirit brings a desire for selflessness, then unity and community.

Before we start working on the tangibles, which Paul will bring forward next, we need the right heart condition. To which, Jesus is at the centre.

Step 2: Move to Others

When Jesus is at the centre, our direction changes! Our ambitions (plans and resolutions) are no longer centred on self. They automatically start including a greater community.

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

We should remove “conceit” from our lives, literally translated as, “vainglory” defined as an “excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements.” (Oxford Dictionary)

Take a moment and think about it. We can get honest and vulnerable for a moment and ask,

“Are my plans, ambitions, thoughts, behaviours all centred around me? Are they all pointing back to me?”

If so, we might have a bad case of vainglory! And the antidote can be a tough pill to swallow. It’s called “humility” and Paul defines it as:

“…count others more significant than yourselves…” and looking “…to the interests of others.”

And in case we’re tempted to place people who think and act like us in that category, Paul doesn’t specify that. In fact, true humility is consider others who are not typically in our camp of opinions and behaviours. To consider people who are not like us more significant is a sign of Christ-centred humility.

Selfish Ambition, Vainglory, COVID & Church

Let’s consider what this looks like for Christians in our cultural moment. Just consider the many polarizations the Church is mixed up in right now, and ask, “Who’s this really about?”

The Church is divided over safety, restrictions, masks, vaccines, etc. But if we listen to ourselves, I mean really listen to our words; it’s all about us. It’s about our opinions, thoughts, and behaviours, on our views on safety, rights, and freedoms. We’re using the same language on both sides of this polarization.

Both sides believe they’re following Jesus, and both believe they’re right. But what’s the outcome?

The Church is divided, which leads to the Gospel no longer being proclaimed.

I know it’s going to be hard to read this. Paul’s call is to consider the opposing group more significant than your own. If we can do that, we can start to find the Centre (Jesus) in it all. We can centre back on the Gospel as priority, that we agree on that. Then start working outward in humility, back in community and unified.

Step 3: End with Jesus

Lets come back to our conversation starter, intention versus direction.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:5-7

Paul started with Christ, and brings us back to Christ. If we can keep Jesus at the centre, our direction changes. When Jesus is the centre and the standard, our best intentions turn into Gospel-focused direction. And we live a better story!

It may feel to simple, but it doesn’t make it any less powerful.

The Apostle Paul, like all New Testament writers, teach us some amazing principles on discipleship and spiritual growth. However, consistently, these principles weave in and out of the power-centre which is Jesus.

Today, we can decide to stop living for self. If we’re willing to place Jesus at centre, then we can start placing others second, so that we can live out a personal story worth writing, and reading.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

1. Discuss the concepts of selfish ambition and vainglory in our culture. How do they tempt you?
2. Read Philippians, chapter 2. Find three principles to help you remain in a humble direction.