Day 120 - Does The End Justify The Means?

Thoughts that have come from various quotes taken from the book, "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim Based Society" by John H. Hovis. Click here to link directly to the audio file.

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“That’s the danger of forgetting who we are; we will use the things of God to help ourselves in ways we might not even realize we are doing.”


As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 27.

Oh how tempting it is to use our position as God’s Child to help us achieve victory as we try and live this life as a victor. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with victory. It is when we adopt “an ends justifies the means” kind of approach to life that the victor loses his/her way and can fall into the trap of victim thinking.

This can be particularly the case when we find ourselves facing hard times. It is all too easy to forget who we are and revert to worldly thinking in an effort to dig ourselves out of the holes the world can place us in. Victors aren’t doomed to remaining stranded in the holes that come their way. They just don’t see getting out of the hole as the end with which they can justify questionable and victim thinking kinds of actions in their life.

Today’s Bible reading deals with how victors are to look at the ends justifying the means.

“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” Matthew 16:24-26 (THE MESSAGE)

It is so easy to lose ourselves as a result of doing what it takes to protect the goodness in our lives. Victim thinkers abound when their focus is aimed too low in life. The victor’s gaze MUST remain high. When we are drawn to let our gaze be transfixed on maintaining and/or adding to our good life we are in jeopardy of losing our way.

Of course the victor is going to do all he/she can to make a good life for themselves. Our relationship with God doesn’t imply that we are to live a burdened filled life. The difference between victor living and victim thinking is that the victor see this life as but a passing thing. They know that this isn’t their home and that they are destined for better - better than they could ever think, ask for or even imagine. We all tend to get lost when the attacks on our good life preoccupy us to the point where we forget who we are.

When you come face to face with the issue of allowing the end (a good life) to justify the means (how you get that good life) take a moment and ponder your identity as God’s Child. Victors just know when they are on the path to losing themselves in the decision they are about to make. They have that sense about them that let’s them consider how their identity is being impacted by the choices they have. It isn’t that victors are going to get the  choices right all the time, it is that they stand a better chance of not getting lost in the process when they choose from the perspective of being a victor rather than choosing from a place of need or want in their life.

Ask God to help you fight an “ends justifies the means” kind of life today. The result will be a greater sense of your place as a victor in the world God has purposed you to be a part of as His Child.