“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” —Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
“Why You Need God’s Vision” By Rick Warren
Why does the Bible say vision is so important in your life? Because “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Here are three reasons it’s essential to have a clear vision of God’s purpose for your life.
Without God’s vision, there’s indecision. James 1:8 says, “A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything” (GW).
Without God’s vision for your future, you drift and wander through life. You don’t have goals, purpose, or meaning. When you just let life happen to you, you’re not really living!
With no vision, you waste time and you miss opportunities. You don’t make the most of what you’ve been given, and that makes you a poor steward of your life. You end up just coasting. And when you’re coasting, you’re always heading downhill.
Without God’s vision, there’s division. If you don’t understand God’s vision for your life, how can you expect others to support you in your purpose? In fact, the lack of vision makes you vulnerable to others steering you toward what they think or assume your purpose is.
Only God can tell you your purpose because he created you specifically and uniquely to live it out. And only following his vision will allow you to live the abundant life God intends for you. If you aren’t sure where you’re headed, then don’t expect anybody else to go with you.
Proverbs 28:2 says, “When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it—But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out” (The Message). Vision is the antidote to division.
Without God’s vision, there’s collision. For many people, life is just a series of relational confrontations, financial crashes, and personal crises. It’s like a bumper car ride, where you just keep getting hit from all sides. Without God’s clear direction for your life, you will inevitably hit a dead end.
The Bible warns of the consequences of not following God’s vision for your life: “Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship” (1 Timothy 1:19 GW).
Getting God’s vision for your life requires prayer, careful thought, and a continual effort to hear God’s voice. It’s the result of seeing things clearly, with eyes of faith rather than eyes of fear. When your faith guides your conscience, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to move forward with purpose.
Talk It Over:
What do you think God’s vision is for your life?
If you saw your current situation through eyes of faith rather than fear, what would you change?
What does it mean for faith to guide your conscience, as 1 Timothy 1:19 says?