Article January 23, 1954 Issue

THE TRUE GOAL

J. BUROUGHS STOKES

Practically all of us at one time or another have been asked, "What is your goal?" We have, as a result of individual backgrounds, given various answers to the question. Some have named as their goal the possession of great riches; others wish to become famous; some want social position and prestige; and so on.

Down through the centuries, and to this very day, an individual often selects a goal and then directs his thoughts and efforts to its attainment. Sometimes he succeeds, only to find that the achievement has not brought the expected happiness, contentment, and satisfaction. At other times he fails, and perhaps with tearful eyes looks back to some incident, person, place, or thing as the seeming cause of his failure. In either case the basic mistake is in accepting the belief that the acquisition of a material object or goal can in itself satisfy and confer harmony.

Christ Jesus lovingly and completely exposed this weakness of mortals when he preached to his disciples against worldly carefulness, or anxiety, as recorded in the twelfth chapter of Luke. At the same time he tells us of the true and only goal—that we should seek not after material things, "but rather," he counseled, "seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."

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