Finding Your Purpose in Life

ILLUST: Self-help books, even Xian books (“your best life now”)

If you ever feel hopeless, down, etc. people will say things like:

“You need to find yourself” “Do what’s best for you” “Look out for yourself” “Take care of yourself” “you can’t love others until you love yourself”

(Hint: we already, naturally, love ourselves, no problem there)

Mark 12:31 NASB95

“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Prosperity theology - imagine yourself in a big house or luxury car, etc.

World’s focus: My success. My self-esteem. My house. My car. My promotion.

OR: Family, kids, their success is my success - mindset affects everyone.

NOT JESUS, NOT PAUL, HOW ABOUT US?

What’s the point of life? Why are you here?

Finding Your Purpose

Paul just finished stating: Christ will be exalted by his life, and death.

Paul was not concerned about leaving a legacy, knowing that death to him would join him with Christ. He did not want to wait for death for people to know what He was about, to realize they needed to follow Christ

Who/what do you choose in life to make you happy, safe? Where do you find purpose?

BASELINE: Evaluate the Biblical purpose of living

Saved AND Sanctified - one before the other

Unthinkable to be a Christian/believer and not live for Christ

Impossible to live a sanctified life without being a believer

(possible to appear like it, do good things, but Christ gets no glory)

1) To Live is Christ

Gal. 2:20 - live by faith - reference to salvation

Col 3:4 - Christ is your life - the union with Christ shown by your life

EVERYthing about Paul was to point people to Christ

Teaching, preaching, prayer, tent-making

Not my idea, but God’s

2) To Die is Gain - (personal)

If he dies - he’d see the Lord, no longer endure this life’s difficulties

NOTE: He did not “desire” to die, but knows that the gain will be his when death came

HEARTBEAT: Live-Christ, Die-Gain (ba-dum, ba-dum)

Feel your heart beat: Alive? Live for Christ

Death is not the concern - you’re alive, live for Christ

SHORT SUMMARY: The life of the believer points to Christ, and Death of believer completes the union with Christ

Life - for others, to point to Christ

Death - for self, to meet the Lord

Dilemma - What to do? (this is Paul)

Q - Are you tired of this life?

Better Q - Is the life you are living for Christ wearing you out, because of an endless cycle of selfless giving? (THIS is why you need strength, because you are spending it on a selfless life for Christ)

Keys to a life with purpose

The longer you live, the more people are touched by your life, for them, not you

Understanding that God desires to use you, as long as you are here

Knowing that the rewards for the believer will come later

The “gain”

Don’t rush it

Let God use you

POINT - Let God decide when you’re done

ASIDE: v. 23 - No purgatory, no “soul sleep”

Hebrews 9:27 NASB95

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

The comfort in death (for the believer) comes from being with Christ - immediate

2 Corinthians 5:8 NASB95

we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

BIBLICAL TRUTH - we all live forever - the question is where? - Otherwise, this text makes no sense

ILLUST: Think about a team, could be sports, business, etc.

Our team is better when ____________ played

Our company is strengthened because __________ works here

QUESTIONS:

Is the Christian faith benefited by YOUR life? Is it better because you are here?

Does your “staying” further anyone’s faith?

Are you living to help others see Christ clearer, or is your life about you?

If you are living for Christ, then your life NOW is for them

If you are not living for Christ, then your life now is for you

Paul’s statement - “If I stay, you will be helped” - Very bold, not arrogant

May my life be like that!

LIVING

Not static, unchanging

Dynamic - constantly changing, moving, growing

Becoming a believer and growing - BOTH

Always growing, never dying

PURPOSE

Knowing Christ

Pressing forward

Serving Christ - each day

TO LIVE - for others

TO DIE - personal gain, will happen, so NOW, we focus on life

Paul desires to be with Christ, BUT commits to living for Him while here

The purpose of the believer’s life (looking for one?)

THE purpose - ONE

How do people see Christ, in us?

Self-giving (giving of self)

Self-humbling (humbling of self)

Self-sacrifice (costly)

First - Christ

Gave - His life for you

Humbled - became flesh - for you

Sacrifice - total mission, to save you

CLOSE

Today, several options to capture our focus, INTENSE FOCUS

Family, work, and so on…COVID, self-preservation

Anyone concerned about preserving the Christian faith?

Imagine if we were as concerned about our life for Christ as we are about the pandemic!

POINT: Life for Christ is NOT lived in a vacuum

Life for Christ is SEEN, KNOWN, characterized by being LIKE Him

What’s your purpose

I meet lots of people who think they have none

There are lots of Christians, who really don’t have one

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

If Christ is not your passion, living for Him will NEVER be your purpose!

NEED a purpose? Let God use you, while you are here

Be less concerned about legacy

Be less concerned about self-preservation

LIVE FOR CHRIST

Your death will be your gain - count on that!

Meanwhile....

Let your life for Christ be for others

Live so others see Christ more clearly