God's Will and the American Dream

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

- Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

The American Dream was once equated with certain principles like freedom, liberty, safety, justice, equality, and happiness. Today, it is often equated with other things – like prosperity, material comforts, home ownership, higher wages, or career success.

The question is - What do we want the American Dream to really be?  Can we reach a general consensus on the direction we want our country to take and what our highest priorities ought to be as we head further into the 21 century? Will we be fearful of the future, or will our American Dream be a positive, hope filled vision of the future for America?

The American Dream James Truslow Adams (1878-1949) was an American writer and historian. He coined the term "American Dream" in his 1931 book The Epic of America. His American Dream was "That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."  - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Truslow_Adams

As a Christian, I personally believe to achieve the American Dream, we must put God and His Will first and everything else is secondary. When we have our hearts centered upon what is really important from a universal perspective, our individual purpose and plans begin to function correctly, as our personal perspectives and lives begin to line up with God's Will.

Knowing and Doing God’s Will

God has a plan for the world and we are a part of the plan and ought to be striving to help His plan become a reality.  To get in line with the plan, we need to follow ‘God's Will.’ But what does that mean? Let’s get specific. Let’s search of the New Testament on the term – God’s Will

Definition:  Will - Something expected, desired, or required of you, i.e. action, thought.

• Mark 3:35.  Whoever does 'God's will' is my brother and sister and mother."
• Romans 12:2.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
• Hebrews 10:36.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
• Ephesians:5:17-21.  Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6.  It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body  in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
• 1 Peter 2:12-15.  Live such good lives among the non-believers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
• 1 Peter 3:15-17 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
• 1 Peter 4:17-19.  It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
• 1 John 2:17.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

God's Will – Getting More Specifics

Now let's get even more specific. What actions and thoughts should we have or be doing to be in line with His Will? He wants us to seek wisdom, knowledge, insight, understanding, and then we are to pursue righteousness and do 'good' in this world carrying out God's great commandments to:  'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind' and to 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   Matthew 22:37-39

Good Behavior & Actions

• 1 Timothy 6:11.  You, man of God, flee from all this [love of money], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
• Galatians 5:22-23.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
• Colossians 3:12.  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances
• Titus 3:1-2.  Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
• 2 Peter 1:5-7.  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Examples of Words Describing Good Traits or Behavior

righteous         godliness                     self-control love                 gentleness                    endurance                    joyful               peaceable prayerful

kindness          obedient faithfulness     humble        thankful compassion      goodness         humility

patience                       considerate      trusting hopeful            persevering      peace-maker encouraging     helpful

                                                                        
Finally, some cautionary verses on Evil Traits or Behavior

•  Romans 12:9-21  “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” 
• 2 Timothy 3:1-5  There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Share your constructive thoughts about the American Dream with our readers.