Chase What Matters: My Challenge To Men

I ran into an old friend at a wedding recently. He attended our church in its early years and later moved to another part of town and joined another church.

It was really good to see him.

My friend commented that he was spending a lot of time on the road and working long hours. That struck me as curious–this guy doesn’t need the money. He has way more money than he could ever burn in a lifetime.

His way of life is protected, he retirement secure and his loved ones, barring a massive financial meltdown, will have a good inheritance when he passes.

He doesn’t need to work.

So I asked him–Why are you still at it? Why all the long hours?

His answer fascinated me–The thrill of the chase.

This guy is wired to conquer. He cannot sit. He loves to set an unbelievably high goal for himself and then see whether or not he can pull it off.

His killer instincts have made him a wealthy man. He knows how to get things done.

That’s why he can’t get off the road. That’s why he can’t slow down. He needs a purpose. He has to be hunting that next kill.

After thinking about his answer for a moment, I responded with a question:

Have you ever been to Nicaragua?

No.

Have you ever been to a third world country?

Again, No.

Boy do I have a thrilling chase for you.

I’m saddened by the number of men I know who think the financial game is the only game in town. But I’m greatly encouraged by the growing number of men I know who have discovered the thrill of a much better, much nobler chase–doing justice.

The Eighth Century BC prophet, Micah, declared,

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

And it’s the doing of justice that has captivated the hearts of so many men I know and has caused them to walk more humbly before their God.

I don’t fault men for trying to be good providers and for trying to be successful at what they do. But I know many men like my friend for whom being successful is an addiction. They can’t quit and they have no finish line in sight. Work defines them. It gives them life.

For them, for guys like that who are driven by the thrill of the chase, I have a challenge:

Five days. Spend five days serving in a third world country. Spend five days looking in the eyes of fathers who will never have the opportunities you have. Spend five days playing basketball or soccer with young men whose only male examples are sexual predators and alcoholics. Spend five days digging a well, replacing a roof, building a house, praying with and for, and listening to and loving people who have no capacity to pay you back.

It is that thrilling chase, that serving of those who are currently underserved, that is captivating the hearts of so many “successful” men and causing them to redefine what it is they’re pursuing.

How about you? Are you ready to redefine success and discover a cause that is bigger than you are?

Your church probably has or knows of a good missions program. Contact them today and get signed up for that first trip.

If you don’t know of any good mission organizations, my friends at Mission Discovery will be more than happy to set you up. Mission Discovery first introduced Austin Christian Fellowship, my family and me to missions. None of us has ever been the same.

I’ll see you in the chase.