Limapela Education Project
Faith in Action
This project aims to provide quality education to children in Zambia's Copperbelt Province.
An unexamined life, it is said, is not worth living. It's very easy for us - whether through apathy, busyness or thoughtlessness - to drift through life without thinking why we are here. Rob Yule gave this message about the importance of taking stock of our life at Greyfriars Presbyterian Church, Mt, Eden, Auckland on 13 February 2005, in preparation for the church's involvement in the 'Forty Days of Purpose' programme.
The 'Preacher' in the book of Ecclesiastes says that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to be silent and a time to speak.
(Ecclesiastes 3: 2-8, NIV)
Some Aucklanders looking at One Tree Hill think it's time to plant. Some of us looking at our houses realise it's time to throw away rather than keep. Some of you have been weeping, and the time is approaching when you should laugh. At the moment it's time for this preacher to speak, but 20 minutes from now you might be thinking it's time for him to be silent.
The 'Forty Days of Purpose' programme we're embarking on as a church is a time for us to re-evaluate. Time to pause, take stock, reassess our priorities, re-evaluate our lives. Paul advises, 'Be very careful how you live - not as unwise but as wise... making the most of every opportunity.' (Ephesians 5: 15-16, NIV). 'Forty Days' is an opportunity for each of us to be wise, to refocus our lives on what is important, to discover the reason why we are here.
It's very easy for people today to become caught up in life's busyness and miss what is truly important. I notice these pressures having come to live in Auckland two years ago. We can become too busy for our own good. Life can become a treadmill of busyness and superficiality. It's important to take stock and re-evaluate our lives according to what is truly important.
According to the Bible, the most important thing is to recognise that God should be the centre of our lives. God has given us life, and we prosper when we live our lives for him. 'The Lord our God is the only true God! So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength.' (Deuteronomy 6: 4-5, CEV).
God deserves, and desires, your whole life. God wants your whole life. Rick Warren says, 'There is not a single verse in the Bible, not one, that says you can be a Christian and live your life any old way you want to.' God wants all of you. 'Offer your bodies to God as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.' (Romans 12: 1-2, CEV).
C. S. Lewis once said, 'The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important. 'If Christianity really is true, then it deserves your whole life-all your energies and dedication. Jesus said, 'You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.' (Matthew 6: 24, CEV).
The pursuit of money distorts many people's priorities. But there are a lot of other things besides money that can push God out of number one place in your life. For some people it's their sport, or a hobby. For others it's a love of comfort, security, or saving for retirement. For others it's a relationship, family, work, ambition.
If you allow something else than God to take the central place in your life, your life will begin to unravel. The key to a fulfilling life is to put God at the centre, to yield your life completely to him. 'With all your heart you must trust the Lord, and not your own judgement. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.' (Proverbs 3: 5-6, CEV).
There's a well-known story in the Bible of Jesus visiting the home of his dear friends, Mary and Martha. They were sisters. The Bible tells us that Mary 'sat down in front of Jesus and was listening to what he said.' But Martha 'was worried about all that had to be done.' The Lord said to her, 'Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.' (Luke 10: 41-42, CEV).
How easily the good can become the enemy of the best. The Lord commended Mary because she didn't let less important things get in the way of the most important thing. She chose what is best - relationship with Jesus. She made the main thing the main thing. She didn't allow herself to get worried and distracted about lots of little things - some of which could have been done at another time, some of which may never really have needed to be done at all.
Most of us are like Martha. We get worried and distracted by so many things. Our lives are too cluttered. We waste our lives on many unimportant things, instead of enjoying the friendship of Jesus that is the one thing really necessary.
What does it take to re-order our lives, to reach our fullest potential? Proverbs 10: 17 (NIV) says, 'The one who heeds discipline shows the way to life.' Discipline must be the most unpopular word in the world! Yet to be a follower of Jesus involves discipline. The two words go together: disciple and discipline. 'You cannot be a disciple of Jesus without discipline', says Rick Warren.
I used to be a middle distance runner. 1 Timothy 4: 7 (NIV) says, 'Train yourself to be godly.' To be a good athlete requires regular training. In the same way, to be a godly person involves the discipline of regular training. Rick Warren defines 'discipline' as 'delayed gratification.' 'Discipline', he says, is doing the difficult now, in order to enjoy the benefit later.'
Some of you don't need this definition, because you're already very disciplined. Your're disciplined in your work, your career, your financial management, your use of time. You plan your day, you're conscientious in your work habits, you're always on time and respect other people's time, you have regular exercise.
Everyone can be disciplined if they want to. Most of us are extremely disciplined when it comes to meals! Some of us haven't missed a meal in years! Even lazy people can be very disciplined if something concerns them, like collecting a pay cheque or a benefit payout. We're all disciplined about things that concern us enough.
What if you were as disciplined about having a daily quiet time as you are about having meals? What if you were as disciplined about serving others as you are about serving yourself? What if you were as disciplined in attending church as you are in watching your favourite television programme? 1 Timothy 4: 7 (JB) says, 'Physical exercises are useful enough, but the usefulness of spirituality is unlimited, since it holds out the reward of life here and now and of the future life as well.'
The 'Forty Days of Purpose' programme will require discipline: discipline to set aside time daily to read a chapter of Rick Warren's prize-winning book The Purpose - Driven Life, discipline to meet once a week in a homegroup or small group with other people, discipline to attend church regularly to learn about the week's theme. But if you do these things, you'll acquire new habits, learn the benefits of delayed gratification. The discipline of a daily quiet time will become a cherished still-point where you can bring each day before God. The discipline of attending a homegroup will help you meet new friends who will support you and hold you accountable in your Christian life. The discipline of attending church will put you in touch with God's wonderful world-wide community.
Why should I make the effort to change? Why should I let go of the unimportant and pursue the important? Why should I let go of some lesser things in order to make time for God in my life?
I could list many reasons - many benefits you'll experience in this life, and of course benefits forever in eternity with God. But the supreme reason is this: because of what Jesus has done for you. 'Christ died for all of us. He died so that we would no longer live for ourselves, but for the one who died and was raised to life for us.' (2 Corinthians 5: 15, CEV).
Have you ever thought about this - that Jesus died for you? He died for every human being in the world, however bad or undeserving. This passage says he 'died for all of us.' Have you ever realised that Jesus died for you? He loved you enough to die for you - so that you could be forgiven, so that you could have a purpose in your life, so that your life here could count for God and be a truly fulfilling one, so that you could share eternity with God.
The Son of God loved you enough to leave heaven's beauty and comfort and share your life. He loved you enough to die a cruel death and stretch out his arms on the cross to embrace you as his friend and follower. He loved you enough to rise again from the dead and offer you eternal life with him for ever.
What Jesus has done for you is a powerful motivation to change. Meditate on it as we share communion together.
Rob Yule, 13 February 2005
© 2005, Greyfriars Presbyterian Church
