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PUTTING GOD FIRST August 20, 2006 INTRODUCTION Last week we talked about busyness, and our need to slow- down- in fact, to make time to stop, and ‘know that God is God.” God says we are to be still, otherwise we may know about God and things that He does, but we cannot experience Him- His presence, His comfort, His Spirit… unless we stop to simply be with Him. If we fail to do this , we become consumed with our busyness, and what a poor reason to keep on going that is! The reality of life, however, is that most of us will still be busy to varying degrees. So in the midst of it all- even when we make time to be still and know that God is God- how do we manage to honor Him in the activities, obligations, and demands of day to day life? How do we know- experience- His life, His power, His joy? You can have it all but it never seems like it's enough to satisfy the deepest corners of your soul- only God can do that. So how do we let Him? 1- PUT THE ACTIVITIES OF LIFE IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE What I mean is, take an honest look at all of the things we do, and try to honestly and realistically say, “How important is this?” In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon recorded his thoughts as he tried to find meaning and satisfaction in life. He developed great wisdom and indulged his desires but they led to nothing. He discovered that amazing wealth, hard work, and even the cycle of life did not offer enough reason and purpose for his existence (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11- I became greater than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. And with it all, I remained clear-eyed so that I could evaluate all these things. Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.).
Now, I don’t think Solomon actually meant that life was worthless- that nothing was good, or of value, or positive. I’m sure there were things in life he recognized as being enjoyable and positive and beneficial to others- but in and of themselves, as a source of and ultimate purpose for being, they all came up short. Whether it’s fame, or wealth, or accolades, or knowledge, or power, or even good works- none of these things could satisfy the deepest longing within his spirit. There had to be something more. If life was ultimately about doing these things, dying, and being buried in the ground, then how significant has our time on this planet been?
2- RECOGNIZE LIFE’S ULTIMATE GOAL Solomon tried it all; he searched and questioned and experimented, just like we do. And after evaluating the value of all he had accomplished and gained and experienced, he came to realize and then state that the ultimate value of life- that which gives it purpose and meaning- is this: "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person" (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NLT). Don't be put off by that word "fear"; it's not about being terrified or frightened. To fear the Lord simply means that you treat God with honor and respect because He's the holy, sovereign God. Don't take His character, His works or His Word lightly, but come to Him in awe and reverence, ready to obey and serve. In essence, what he is saying is this: By acknowledging, honoring, and seeking to please God in all areas of life, all areas of life are filled with purpose. Rather than just another ‘compartment’ to add to life, the pursuit of God and His pleasure permeates all of life and gives it meaning and value.
This truth of obeying God and placing Him first is what we are repeatedly taught in the New Testament as well: - When asked what the greatest command of the Hebrew law was, Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) - In Luke 12:31, Jesus said that God “… will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. - in regard to the need to obey God, Jesus spoke these words in John 14:21- “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them.” Maybe this is what's missing in your life- perhaps it's time to develop a healthy fear the Lord. Perhaps it’s time to really put God first, making Him your focus instead of looking around for what you want out of life. Make this vertical relationship with Him your priority, then let it influence your horizontal relationships with people, work and life around you. How important is this? In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus tells a story about the future judgment, and people who were busy and active- even with religious and good things- but didn’t take the time to really know God- On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.’ Again, it’s not that these things are evil or worthless- but they are not and cannot be the ultimate purpose of our lives. And if we don’t take time to be still, to sit at the feet and in the presence of Jesus, and to focus the ultimate goals of our lives on His purposes, then how can we really claim to know God? God invites you to come to Him for all that makes life good and fulfilling. Listen to what He offers you in Isaiah 55:1-3- “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you.”
WRAP UP… Take a few moments to evaluate your life with these questions: - Do I work for God? Do I see my job as a way to serve, honor and please Him? - Do I love others with God's love? Do my relationships honor and please Him and do good to others? - Do I live each day with God in mind? Do I try to walk in His presence, seeking to enjoy, honor and please Him? If you get a lot of "no" answers, maybe it's time to invite God to become the focus of your life.
(Have someone read Psalm 63:1-8 while I play guitar and start special music) |