An Objective Life

Intro

Hello, God’s Beloved. Welcome to Win At Life’s Word Study, Walk It Down. I’m Pastor Karl R. Bowling.

For the past few weeks, we have explored an unrenewed mind and its characteristics along with a renewed mind and the benefits thereof.

Today I want to talk about the importance of having an objective life or life’s objective.

Turn with me to Romans 15:20 (NIV) Bible;

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

We all need a life objective—a vision of what we believe God wants to do in our lives. Because if we can visualize it, we can accomplish it.

The apostle Paul had a life objective, and he described it in Romans 15:20: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation” (NIV). Paul’s objective for his life was to preach where no one else had preached before.

I also like the way it’s written in the Amplified Bible;

Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture],

“They who had no news of Him shall see,

And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”

You need a life objective too. You should have more than a vague idea of what you want to do with your life. You need something written down on paper.

Why is a life objective so important? Because it reduces frustration. When you know why you exist, it makes the little decisions easier.

It increases motivation. When you clearly define your purpose, you have a reason to get out of bed.

It allows for concentration. People become successful because they focus on a single thing and stop dabbling around.

It attracts cooperation. When you decide where you want to go in life, you’ll find many others who want to go with you. Henceforth, determining your life’s objective.

The backdrop:

Verse 20. “Yea, so have I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named.”

The fact that he had not only preached the Gospel to so many, and persuaded them, but he did not even go to those who had become disciples. So far was he from thrusting himself upon other men’s disciples, and from doing this for glory’s sake, that he even made it a point to teach those who had not heard. For neither does he say where they were not persuaded, but “where Christ was not even named,” which is more. And what was the reason why he had this ambition? “Lest I should build,” he says, “upon another man’s foundation.”

So, Paul said this to show himself a stranger to vanity, and to instruct them that it was not from any love of glory, or of honor from them, that he came to write, but as fulfilling his ministry, as perfecting his priestly duty, as loving their salvation.

I’m talking about an objective life!

So he calls the foundation of the Apostles “another man’s,” not in regard to the quality of the person, or the nature of preaching, but in regard to the question of reward. For it was not that the preaching was that of another man, but so far as it went to another man’s reward. For the reward of the labors of others was, to this man, another man’s. Then he shows that a prophecy was fulfilled also saying,

Verse 21. “As it is written, To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand.”

So Paul is describing when he runs to where the labor is more, the toil greater.

Verse 22. “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.”

So, observe again, how he makes the end of the like texture with the introduction. For while he was quiet at the beginning of the Epistle, he said, “Oftentimes I purpose to come unto you, but was let hitherto.” (Rom. 1:13.) But here he gives the cause also by which he was let, and that not once, but twice even, aye and many times.

For as he says there, “oftentimes I purposed to come to you,” so here too, “I have been much (or often, τὰ πολλὰ) hindered from coming to you.”

Aye, there it is, there it is!

Now this is the thing that proves a very strong desire, (to live an objective and purposeful life) that he attempted it so often.

Verse. 23. “But now having no more place in these parts.”

So, we see how Paul shows that it was not from any coveting of glory from them, that he both wrote and was also coming. “And having a great desire to come to you these many years,”

Verse 24. “Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I trust to see you in my journey; and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company,”--

So, I want to suggest three simple but important steps for determining God’s objective for your life. But before you can follow these steps, you need to meet the prerequisite: You need to spend time alone with God. Many people don’t determine God’s objective for their lives because they’ve never stopped long enough to consider what it is. They’re simply too busy. And rightfully so! But we then must become intentional in our making time for God. And not just when there is a crisis in our lives.

Psychologist Rollo May said, “It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.”

After Paul became a follower of Jesus, he spent time alone with God in Arabia. He spent three years in the desert listening to God and asking him to give him a vision for his life.

My Time Is Almost Out.

So, when you spend time alone with God, ask yourself these three questions.

Point #1

What are my gifts?

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6 NIV).

Theologian Charles Hodge had this to say about gifts;

What was special about the new dispensation was that, first of all, these gifts were not confined to any one group of people but extended to all—male and female, young and old. Secondly, these supernatural endowments were wonderfully diverse.

Charles Hodge

So, you’re unique—one in 8 billion! When you get to heaven, God won’t question you about why you’re not more like Moses or T. D. Jakes. God wants you to live the life he created you to fulfill.

The key to finding success is to invest your life in the gifts and talents God has given you. Because they will always point you to his will for your life.

Point # 2

What are some of my experiences that God might want to use?

I like what Pastor Warren W. Weirsbe said about experiences,

God does not help us by removing the tests, but by making the tests work for us. Satan wants to use the tests to tear us down, but God uses them to build us up.

Warren W. Wiersbe

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).

So, God uses all of your experiences, even the painful ones, to shape you for what he wants to do through you. He’ll use those experiences to help you minister to others in the same situation you’ve been in before. And catch this nugget, God never wastes a hurt.

Even before you became a Christian, God already knew which people he wanted you to reach. He knew how he would use your pain to help someone else.

So, identify the experiences—both good and bad—that have shaped your life, and consider each one as you look to God for guidance on what he wants you to do.

Point # 3

What’s most important?

“I may do anything, but everything is not useful. Yes, I may do anything but everything is not constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23 PHILLIPS).

Successful people have learned to eliminate what won’t matter ten years from now, much less in eternity. Successful people focus on what will last.

Philosopher William James wrote this about life,

The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.

William James

So, what will last the longest?

The Bible says two things will last forever. Everything else will burn away.

God’s Word—“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35 NIV).

People—Humans will spend forever in either heaven or hell.

If God has given you a life goal, it will somehow involve God’s Word and people.

Conclusion

So, ask yourself these three questions, and then write your answers on paper. Why? Because nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific. If you can write a life objective down, you can achieve it.

Then, make sure you review your objective frequently until it’s ingrained into the patterns of your life.

After all is said and done in and about your life, only you can make the choice for your life to count. Don’t waste it.