How Is Your Aim?

Aiming is important in multiple sports including archery, basketball, baseball, tennis and others, as well as other areas of life. Aiming is also referenced when talking about success; “Aim for the stars,” “Set your sights high,” “Aim for success not perfection.” What is less commonly talked about is HOW to aim. We are told what to aim for, but not how. And what does this have to do with our spiritual lives?

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

How to Aim

Most sports involve some form of aiming, but with most it is not very direct. Archery is another matter. Aim is everything. It doesn’t matter how big the bow is if the archer can’t hit what he is aiming at, and believe me, it takes considerable skill. Hunting with any weapon involves this same skill and accuracy. I like this quote from The Patriot when Benjamin Martin reminds his sons how to shoot, ”aim small, miss small,” meaning that the smaller the point on which they focused, the less likely they were to miss. This is also true when driving or walking. We go where we are looking. If we drive looking at something off to the side, we will veer in that direction, even if we are looking at something inside the vehicle.

Aim is important in our spiritual lives, as well as in these physical areas. We should not wander aimlessly, assuming that we will do God’s will by accident without any effort. We must be intentional in everything. It is important that we consider what we are doing, and where we fix our gaze. Our aim needs to be on something specific which God has appointed. Just determining to “be a good Christian” and then going about life with no further thought won’t cut it. We will end up in the ditch or lost in a bad part of town.

Where to Aim

Colossians 3:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (emphasis added)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Once we figure out how to aim, we need to know where to aim. A person can be a good shot, but if they don’t have a defined target they won’t get much. Our target, as Christians, should be the things above, the things of Christ. That will look different for all of us, for we all have a different purpose appointed by God, but no matter what we do we should always have godliness in view. I like the acronym ALIVE: Always Living In View of Eternity. We need to focus so hard on God that we become like Him. That is how we stay on the straight and narrow.

Remember, aim small, miss small. What we focus on, mentally, directs where we go. Our thoughts determine who we become. The more intently we focus on Christ, the more likely we are to get there. But if we focus on worldly success, happiness, wealth, or even good things like family and morals without holding them in the realm of eternity we will miss. No matter how good our intentions or goals, they all have to be second to Christ. If we put Him first, and hold everything else within the broader target of Him, we will shoot true.

So how is your aim? Based on your regular thought life, motives, and goals, what are you aiming at? Is eternity in view? Ask God to help you redefine your target and help you focus on what matters most.