Ask yourself, So what?

Neil Armstrong made his first moon walk on July 20, 1969, two months before I entered college. I remember that many Americans were euphoric about this accomplishment. There were songs written, celebrations, ticker tape parades, and coins depicting an eagle landing on the moon.

Yet what really stands out in my memory was a poster on a classmate's dorm-room wall. It looked like the front page of a newspaper's special edition. The large photo dominating the upper half of the page showed Armstrong in his space suit, visor down, planting the U.S. flag into lunar soil. The banner headline screamed, "So what?"

I think the "So what?" poster was questioning whether the billions poured into the space program were justifiable while people in the U.S. and around the world were still suffering from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and poor health care. Stewardship was the issue the poster was raising.

Most would agree the space program has been well worth its expense. The many spin-offs are not the only benefit. This great achievement forever transformed our assumptions of what is possible.

We should ask ourselves, "So what?" at the very moment we accomplish anything we are tempted to label "great." We should do this so habitually that we learn to ask it at the beginning of a project, not just at its end. Is this thing into which I am pouring so much of my time, money, and energy really worth it all? Will it change the world for the better? Will it change me?

The Master asked, "So what?" again and again. He wanted his disciples to count the cost, to inspect the fruit, to look down the broad road and up the narrow road. Many of His parables have to do with Judgment Day. The fire of judgment will burn up all the unworthy pursuits and the fly-by-night goals. What survives will be only what can face such a probing question with solid confidence.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

---

Weave Your Own Web

Many elementary school children know the miracle of Charlotte's Web.... Read More

How To Choose The Right Goals To Focus On

Sometimes setting goals alone is not the only problem that... Read More

Is that W-A-L-R-U-S?

A few years back, I went to London, England. I... Read More

Resolutions? Try this!

Several articles and newsletters with the message that New Year's... Read More

Goal Setting - My Disappointing Discovery

Goal setting has become almost an industry in itself with... Read More

Great Things Materialize Once We Start to Visualize

Watching the Olympics last week really amazed me. The feats... Read More

Plan, Prioritize, Play 10 Strategic Ways To Be Time Rich And Stress Free

1. Retrain your self-talk, to remove selfish from your vocabulary... Read More

Goal Setting and Goal Getting: The BD3 Approach

Most people have no problem setting goals. At the same... Read More

Lessons from the First Space Strike

On Apollo 13, the crew staged the first strike in... Read More

Applying Action To Your Inner Desires!

"I know what I need to do, but I'm scared... Read More

Pretend Interest and Apathy... What To Do About Them!

According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary "apathy is defined as the following:... Read More

Set Your Mind To Win!

Have you ever heard someone say, I could do it... Read More

Willpower: Who Needs It? Not Me

What is this mysterious creature, this intangible element, this phantom... Read More

Ten Reasons To Have an Inspired, World Changing Goal

In a nutshell, having an inspired, world-changing goal is the... Read More

Set Goals In Life

It is important to set goals in life. To accomplish... Read More

One Stroke at a Time

"One stroke at a time." In an interview, Tiger Woods... Read More

Make Your Dreams Reachable

All too often, we may be envisioning a level of... Read More

Get a Clear Mental Picture of the Goal Already Accomplished

"A man can be as great as he wants to... Read More

What Do You WANT? What Do You DESERVE?

INTRODUCTIONThis article is used for discovering our needs from life,... Read More

Six Keys To Build Vision - Point Three

Six keys to keys to build vision - point three3.... Read More

Set Positive Goals And Strive To Achieve Them

On 31st January 2005, two students from my martial arts... Read More

Planning for Success

The purpose of having an analytical brain is to use... Read More

Got Purpose? Part 2

I guess I found some hot buttons last week eh?... Read More

19 Ultimate Success Tips for your Online Business

1. Your first ultimate start must include written goals and... Read More

The Most Powerful Knowledge Available To Man

In this article you will learn the most powerful knowledge... Read More

5 Steps to Goal Setting Success

Goal setting is the true secret to success in any... Read More

Set SMART Goals to Achieve More

Are you having trouble achieving your goals, or getting through... Read More

Do you Have the Burning Desire to Lose Weight or Reach any Goal?

NOTE: This article is one of the component parts of... Read More

Eight Steps to Taking Control of Every Situation in Your Life!

Like it or not, we are all gladiators. We go... Read More

Goals: What Would You Like to Accomplish in the Next 90 Days?

"What would you like to accomplish in the next 90... Read More

Figure Out the Pebble in Your Shoe

"By asking for the impossible, we obtain the best possible."... Read More

To Realize your Dreams, Focus on Significance, not Success

"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not... Read More

Your Life Is A Do-It-Yourself Project!

The responsibility of working hard, planning and living a successful... Read More