10,000 Hours December 2, 2015

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Philippians 3:12 ESV

"I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself." (My Utmost. Chambers.)

My relationship to God is not about me.  It is not about me becoming more Christ-like.  It is not about me spending time in prayer.  It is not about my time in Scripture.  No, these are merely things I do in order to be a person who "produces a longing after God in other lives."  I might the holiest person on earth, but if I am not leading others to Christ, what good am I?  God may be revealing great truths to me on a daily basis, but if my speech is not causing others to think about Christ, then I am a waste of breath.

Malcolm Gladwell writes about the "10,000-hour Rule".  This rule states that to achieve world-class expertise in any skill, one must put in 10,000 of correct practice on that skill.  To make this 10,000 goal a reality, 4 hours of practice 7 days a week for 10 years would be required.  Now for most of us, that amount devotion to any one endeavor is impractical, perhaps impossible, which is exactly why there are so few world-class experts.  However, the 10,000-hour Rule does highlight an important principal.  It is not the practice that is the end in and of itself.  The practice is merely a pathway to greatness.

As Christians Bible study, meditation, prayer, etc. are not the goal.  Even a closer relationship with God is not the reason we are put on earth.  Our prayer, Bible study, even our relationship with God are all ultimately a vehicle to point others to Jesus Christ.  We have no other purpose, no other reason for existence on this earth.