What is your goal?

This morning, while preparing for a sermon, I opened the Bible and came across Acts chapter 15. After reading it, a question arose: why is there such a wide range of opinions? And why do such disagreements and differences of opinion arise among God’s children—who are supposed to be led by the same Holy Spirit—that it was even necessary to convene a separate council of elders and the church in Jerusalem?

“But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.” (Acts 15:1–2, ESV)

In Jerusalem, the issue was far from easily resolved:

“And after there had been much debate…” (Acts 15:7, ESV)

Finally, a decision was made with minimal requirements for the believing Gentiles:

“…to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” (Acts 15:28–29, ESV)

What a wide range of opinions! From keeping the Law of Moses to minimal requirements that even non-believers could easily follow. Of course, as we read the Bible, we understand that these requirements are far from sufficient. At that time, however, the main issue was to resolve the question of circumcision. James knew that the teaching of Paul and the other brothers would later build upon these minimal requirements.

But still—why such a wide spectrum of opinions? Even today, we see in Christianity a variety of teachings, understandings, and denominations. Everyone has their own “truth.” So who is right?

First of all, we must ask ourselves: what is our goal in life? Because a person aligns all their actions, their use of time, and their understanding according to their goal. They choose what matches their purpose.

For example, an athlete who wants to achieve great results and win a title disciplines himself, follows a schedule, runs in the mornings, avoids harmful habits, controls his diet, trains daily, and so on. He has a goal. His whole life revolves around it.

Therefore, his opinions and views will differ from those of a person who has no goals and simply lives for pleasure—or whose goal is to make money, travel the world, or something else.

Of course, in God’s eyes, all such goals have no value—all the goals of this world are vanity, as King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes.

We, believers, have been:

“ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers”
(1 Peter 1:18, ESV)

However, even among believers, goals differ.

Some seek to know Christ. Others need God for blessings, healing, solving problems—or simply so that He does not interfere with their lives or punish them.

Recently, I came across advertisements for seminars on how to make money with God’s help. The organizer testified how difficult life had been until he began using certain Bible verses—and then his situation improved. Many people wanted to learn his method and “use God” to become wealthy—the promotional video showed a full hall of such “entrepreneurs.”

Such pursuits are quite common in the Western world.

These are Christians who focus more on this life than on the one to come. They want results here and now. They do not seek a deeper knowledge of Christ—they want practical benefits. God must bless them, after all, they are His children.

And there are many such Christians. At least, that is what the apostle Paul says:

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
(Philippians 3:18–19, ESV)

They feel secure, satisfied, lacking nothing:

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
(Revelation 3:17, ESV)

Paul also writes:

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
(1 Corinthians 15:19, ESV)

Meanwhile, the gaze of a true Christian is directed beyond this life.

The apostle Peter says that the goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9).

This is only possible through knowing Christ—mere obedience to commandments is not enough.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD…”
(Hosea 6:3, ESV)

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being… that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength… to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
(Ephesians 3:14–19, ESV)

In another letter, Paul describes how passionately he pursued the knowledge of Christ:

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ… I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know him and the power of his resurrection… Not that I have already obtained this… but I press on… forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…”
(Philippians 3:7–14, ESV)

This goal is not easily achieved. It requires effort.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
(Matthew 11:12, ESV)

It requires disciplining the body, putting to death its desires:

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
(John 12:24, ESV)

Paul writes:

“I die every day!”
(1 Corinthians 15:31, ESV)

He compares himself to an athlete:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it… I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
(1 Corinthians 9:24–27, ESV)

So, Christians have different goals.

Returning to Acts 15—sometimes the goal can be almost right, but still wrong.

What was the problem of the Pharisees? They chose the wrong goal. Their goal was keeping the law, not knowing God—not what God truly desires:

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
(Hosea 6:6, ESV)

Even today, there are Christians who focus on keeping certain laws (for example, the Sabbath), just as the Pharisees focused on circumcision.

And what is your goal?

If you do not find time in the morning to read the Bible and pray, then your goal is not to know the Lord.

Perhaps you need Him only for blessings?