Dharius Daniels - Are Your Standards Too Low?

Listen, have you ever felt like there was a gap between where you are and where you know you could be, or even a gap between where you are and where you should be? If you’ve ever experienced that, I want you to stay tuned to this video. I want to show you why that gap is there; it’s probably not what you think. Then I’m going to tell you exactly what to do about it. And let’s be very clear, my answer isn’t working harder, because working harder only works if you’re working hard on the right thing. Stay tuned.

You know, I read this book a while ago, and this book introduced me to this concept called the Principle of the Path. What the writer says is this: he states that it is direction, not intention, that determines destination. I was like, wow, that was very simple for me but very profound, because sometimes I think we’re operating under the assumption that if we have good intentions, we’re going to end up at good destinations. What he says is no; it’s the Principle of the Path. It’s the direction that you take, not the intentions that you have, that actually determine your destination.

When I think about many of us who are attempting to fulfill a purpose, we’re trying to carry out a vision that God has placed in our hearts for our lives, for someone we are supposed to become, or for something we are supposed to do. Very often, there are these gaps and chasms that exist between where we are, not just where we could be but where we should be. There’s a reason for those gaps, and I want to share two of them today. I’m going to spend time talking about one, but I want you to be aware of both.

One reason for that gap is simply that God’s timing is not always the season of fulfillment. In other words, the season that God shows you something isn’t always the season you’re supposed to act on it. Sometimes, you receive a revelation about what you’re supposed to do, not because you’re meant to execute immediately, but so you can prepare. In other words, sometimes God will show you in one way or another, «Hey, it’s getting ready to rain,» so that you can prepare—like Noah, who built an ark. Building the ark was an act of preparation for the rain. God didn’t tell Noah it would rain and then let it rain in the same season because the season of announcement is not always the season of fulfillment. Sometimes there’s a gap between where you are, where you could be, and where you should be simply because of God’s timing, and God’s timing is God’s kindness. That means His timetable is always the best timetable for you. It doesn’t always feel good to you, but it is the best timetable for you.

Sometimes, He’s taking His time because there’s something about it you’re not ready for. For example, when David, who defeated Goliath, started working in the palace with Saul, there was something about working in the palace that David had to be ready for. He had to be ready for the pressure; he had to be ready for Saul’s insecurity; he had to be ready to literally dodge spears—like Saul literally threw spears at him. He had to be ready for that. So sometimes, there’s something about the palace that God needs to get us ready for, and sometimes there’s something about the palace that God has to get ready for us. His timing is His kindness.

That’s not what I want to talk about today, though, because very often I think we can attribute that gap to God’s timing when sometimes the issue isn’t God’s timing—it’s our tactics. It’s not His timing; it’s our tactics. It’s not what God isn’t doing; it’s what we aren’t doing. Here’s what I think: I believe we live in a culture and climate that truly values hard work. «Grinding» has become a cultural phenomenon. Now, that’s not my reality; I work hard. I think the Bible speaks to the importance of a biblical work ethic, but sacrificing what matters most to God in an attempt to pursue what matters most to us—you can call it what you want, but the Bible calls it idolatry. I want you to pause; this is intentional. I want you to sit with that. When I invert God’s priorities with my priorities, we can call it whatever we want, but the Bible would call that idolatry.

So that’s not what we’re talking about today—we’re not discussing idols. However, it is possible to put the wrong thing on the altar. Our culture encourages us to work in ways that are inconsistent with divine design. God Himself rested; He created the world and rested on the seventh day, not as a response to fatigue but as a result of accomplishment. He models for us the way to create. So if He’s creating in six days and we’re creating in seven, I mean, come on. Listen, this is no shade or slight to anyone; I’m just saying there’s an aspect of grind culture that I think everyone assumes is the solution to the gap. If I just work harder, if I just work longer, if I just stay up late enough, then I can…