Real Purpose

Psalm 90:10–12 NIV

10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The average life expectancy for us here in the United States is about 76 years for us men— and about 81 years for you ladies.

Let’s do a little math in keeping with the Psalmist:

76 years is actually 27,740 days.

81 years is 29,565 days.

the average of those two numbers is 28,652. Let’s round it to 28,500 days. (that’s about 78 years)

Now take how old you are in years— multiply that by 365. Subtract this from the 28,500.

This is literally what the Psalmist is suggesting— that we would number our days. So that what? We might gain a heart of wisdom.

This puts “it” in perspective.

I did the math— and although I hope I might live longer than the statistical 76 years...

I’ve got about 8,700 days left— or about 24 years. Spend them wisely.

Take 78 minus your age— times 365, to get how many days you might have left.

That’s a hard thought, isn’t it? James lays out a pretty strong chastisement for us again in this section of his letter.

That finite number of days— represents a resource that we have been given— but there are three key questions I want us to consider as we go through this:

Whose planning your life?

Whose purpose are you living by?

Whose prescription are you following?

Another way that might help you— it’s about “alignment”— Jesus came into the world and proclaimed that if you didn’t know God— it was Him who would help you align your life with God— and if you already knew God (Jewish people)— that there is a great “realignment” that should happen also.

Is your life aligned with God? Then you are a disciple of Jesus! Your election has a plan, a purpose, and a prescription. A missional community that lives out His life---To the world, in the world, for the world.

Mission, Community, Holiness— We want you to find yourself in the whole story of God!

Whose plan guides your life? (v.13-14)

James 4:13 NIV

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

James 4:14 NIV

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

There are usually two types of people when it comes to planning… Those who do it well, and those who don’t even know what we’re talking about. Usually with maturity in life comes a skill of thinking ahead and planning—

James is not necessarily chastising the fact that a person made some plans, right?

What’s the problem?

Planning is essential, but do we acknowledge God in our planning?

What is your life? What a question! Have you ever really considered that question? What is your life?

James reminds us that in the largest understanding of time and the universe— our lives are pretty short.

In the scope of eternity, our life on earth is quite short. (v.14)

God has a plan for your life:

God plans for you to reach His world.

God plans for you to proclaim His Word.

God plans for you to learn His wisdom.

Whose purpose guides your life? (v.15-16)

What is the purpose of an item, a tool, or other object?

James 4:15 NIV

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

This is a very subtle difference, but a powerful shift—

How can I know God’s purpose? Ask him! But also the Scripture is a wonderful place to gather knowledge and wisdom:

God’s purpose includes salvation. (Jn 3:16)

God’s purpose includes sanctification. (II Thes 4:3)

God’s purpose includes service. (Rom 12:2)

Salvation refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences, granted by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. It encompasses forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the promise of eternal life.

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Sanctification, refers to the process by which believers are made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. It involves a progressive transformation that begins at the moment of salvation and continues throughout the believer's life, aiming to conform them to the image of Christ. This process includes the believer's growth in spiritual maturity, moral purity, and Christ-like character. It’s how we are set apart— thats God’s purpose for you.

II Thessalonians 4:3-4

Service:"Service to God is the act of dedicating one's time, talents, and resources to fulfill God's purposes and commands, demonstrating love, obedience, and faithfulness to Him. It involves worship, acts of kindness, spreading the Gospel, and living a life that reflects God's character and teachings."

Matthew 16:24–25 NIV

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

James 4:16 NIV

16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

Without an acknowledgement of God in our planning and our purpose— James suggests that we are being arrogant— and presumptuous.

Taking what God has given you— and not using it for Him, is rude and disrespectful.

Don’t take God’s favor for granted.

Whose prescription guides your life? (v. 17)

When we are ill, we often can see an expert who will “prescribe” a medicine, treatment, or other intervention to assist us in getting healthy. Even food and exercise are “prescribed” for optimal health.

There is a plan for your life. God does indeed have a plan for your life.

There is a purpose for your life— the ultimate goal of the whole thing.

James 4:17 NIV

17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Do you know what God wants for your life?

To be connected and close to Him. To abide—

God’s original intention for man was close friendship and cooperation with Him.

Abide: “to remain or continue in a particular state, relationship, or condition.”

John 15:4–5 NIV

4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

That word, “remain”— it’s a Greek word: “meno”. Yup, you got it. Menno Simons— Mennonites, they are the people of Abiding in Jesus.

We are going to give you a chance to consider all this by singing a song with this exact title… Abide. in me. Lets just rest and acknowledge that we are really nothing without Jesus. Press into Him— and seek his plans, purpose and prescription for your life.