The Greatest Good

“Benefit or advantage to someone or something.”

- Dictionary definition of good

With God's wonderful timing I joined a Women's Christian Faith group and the topic of our discussion today was "Two Steps to Knowing Gods Will" a topic I have wrestled with for some time now.   The two steps to know God's will were to first admit that you need guidance through prayer and second to ask God in faith for directions.  The discussion sheet written by Rick Warren pointed out that we make many of our decisions without asking God for guidance, but he will always respond to our prayers.  During our discussions, I asked the other women "How does God communicate his will to you?"  I had to laugh when one woman said God shouts "NO" in her head, because two weeks earlier God had done the same thing to me.  Some of the women said that once they prayed, they could make a decision and a peace came over them.  One commented that when she had made decisions not guided by God, they ended in disaster.  She realized that when consulting God and followed his guidance she made decisions that prepared her for events yet to occur in her life.

I asked the faith group what is the end purpose of "God's Will?"  Most answered it was for their own and family's happiness and well being and to prepare for future challenges in their lives.   This week I posed the question to God and he answered me telling me his will is for "the greatest good."  

Because God knows all, following his will and direction will result in the "greatest good" which is impossible for us to see on our own volition.   In the past month when I was ready to move on from a job, God said no and asked me to wait.  I realized when he finally released me, that I had fulfilled his purpose for me and I was at peace.  God often uses us to plant seeds in others or fight spiritual battles that will blossom in the "greatest good" for others and us.  Sometimes fulfilling his will is not always easy, but when we are finished, God says "well done my servant" and will release us to a state of peace and well being.

Chess and the Metaphysical

“I'm a chess piece. A pawn,' she said. 'I can be sacrificed, but I cannot be captured. To be captured would be the end of the game.”

― Paolo Bacigalupi, Ship Breaker

Twenty-five years ago I was "a pawn" caught in a physical and metaphysical "game of chess" at a corporation trying to protect people I loved.  Someone once commented later to me the corporation was a "gilded cage."  I didn't understand how money, prestige combined with fear in the corporation kept each us in a snare unable to fly and fulfill God's purpose for us.  At the time, working at this corporation was considered "the best game in town."  Employees spent their time calculating how to out maneuver others in a political chess game in order to gain power and money to create their "vision" of the corporation.  Years later, the corporation self destructed from an inner moral sickness and was bought out. Thousands of employees lost their jobs in the process.

No metaphysical game which affects our physical environment can be fought like a chess game with some believing they have more power than God, who is love.  Because God is omnipotent and perfectly good, he results in the greatest power.    In God's eyes we all have equal but unique positions.  When we are consistent with God's purpose for each of us and make our choices based on love, we can create the Kingdom of God on Earth.   We can also rest in not knowing "how the pieces fit together," because God always does and he works for the greatest good.