“Answers to all the questions in your life.” That’s the promise of a popular site that offers “tips to improve all aspects of your life.” Mark me skeptical.

Not even the Bible gives all the answers. (Read Deuteronomy 29.29.)

So we can chalk up their pitch to hyperbole. Fair enough. But is this not a case of going too far?

A big list of motivational sites comes across as sad. Who’s more desperate, the seekers or the offerers?

Writers among us have often cited Philippians 2.12, that one about working out your salvation. It’s a good one to cite. (And it’s seldom tied to the preceding section, but that’s a whole different ball of wax.)

But they seldom if ever touch verse 13. Why is that?

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).

This verse doesn’t give you the answers to all the questions in your life, but you’ll find everything you need.

• Knowledge of what pleases God: “what pleases him;”
• Motivation to get with the program: “the desire;”
• Power to get it done: “power to do;”
• Source that never conks out: God is working in you.”

What else could you want?

Even if you had all the answers to life’s questions, you’d still probably not be happy.

With the Bible in hand, knees bent in prayer, feet busy doing the will of God, you’ll be content. Really content.

Pleasing God will leave you pleased.

Only one issue remains: Will you commit to this?

A “yes” answer to that will take care of all the questions in your life.

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J. Randal Matheny

Randal and his wife Vicki have lived and worked in Brazil since 1984. He is one of God's little ones. He seeks to speak the truth simply and lovingly. Comments at this link.

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