While many associate Grand Theft Auto with wanton violence, crime, and the downfall of society, the game has a deep world to explore. When you are not escaping the cops for vehicular manslaughter, there are a myriad of activities you can perform. You can “borrow” a police car and help the cops with a few of their cases. You can “borrow” an ambulance and pick up injured people (you are probably why they are injured in the first place). You can “borrow” a cab and deliver customers to their destination. If you truly want to delve into the world, you can whittle your time away in a pool hall, bowling alley, or record shop.*

The young adult life has many projects. By the time you turn 25, you can be opening an eBay store, running a Super Smash Bros club, working as a Jr. CEO, playing professional pickleball, uploading your album to Spotify, or collecting all the Pokemon. The options to make your mark in this world are immense; even thinking about them could cause decision paralysis.

Followers of God have one essential insider tip that helps with the overwhelming choices. We understand that not everything we set out to do is worth our time. In fact, Psalms 127:1 admits, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those that labor build in vain.” 

Some roads and projects we chase need to be eliminated or deprioritized because they are not the best use of our time. It’s hard to tell which ventures have God’s green stamp approval and which are fluff, but we have other clues in the Bible to help us decide.

Philippians 4:8-9 directs us to find the tasks in life that are pure, kind, excellent, praiseworthy, and noble. Matthew 6:33 contains Jesus’ command to find tasks that benefit God’s Kingdom first and foremost.

But don’t fall on the opposite side of the spectrum: refusing every opportunity in fear that God will not approve it. You can’t meditate in your room until God hits you with a eureka bolt that permits you to shower, look for a job, or call a friend. Trying new activities is a God-given mandate. The young adult life is a mixture of trying new things, reflecting on what is best with your relationship with God, and making changes along the way.

*You should examine if Grand Theft Auto is pure, kind, excellent, or praiseworthy.

Research: Psalm 127:1, Philippians 4:8-9, Matthew 6:33

What is your greatest non-career hobby/project in life?

What happens when you are “building a house” and the Lord is helping you labor? What happens when he isn’t helping you?

What activities do you consider pure, excellent, praiseworthy, noble, and admirable? Which activities in your life work for the Kingdom of God?