Seeing Life from God’s View

Seeing Life from God’s View

Introduction:

James 4:13–15 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.” 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. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Lord willing

We are never promised tomorrow

· Think about this a minute

· We rush from this appointment to the next

· Or we are apathetic – A “so what” attitude

· We know the things that drive our lives

Fear, guilt, resentment, money, approval

· This in turn determines how we see ourselves

· “This perspective will influence”

How you invest your time

How you spend your money

Use your talents

Value your relationships

· How do you see your life?

o Sometimes the dog sometimes the post

This turns into a metaphor of our life

· If you see life as a battle or a game, winning will be very important to you.

· This metaphor may be faulty

· We need to change our thinking and see things from God’s point of view

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

· The bible teaches us 3 metaphors (analogies)

Life is a test – a trust – and a temporary assignment

Life on earth is a test.

a. How does God test us?

i. Character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty

ii. My postal integrity test

iii. These are trials temptations refining and testing

1. Used over 200 times in the bible

2. Abraham pasted David failed

iv. You go through this on a daily basis

v. Eating a restaurant with another preacher

1. He gave a small tip

2. That made an impression on the waitress

vi. Other times it’s the small acts of kindness

These are all tests

What are some of the big test God places on us.

i. Major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies

ii. That’s a tough list

iii. How is God testing you?

c. What’s the lesson in all of this?

i. When you know you are being tested…?

ii. Nothing in life is insignificant

iii. Unlimiting God – We are where we because of the test we have faced and the act of God building you character

d. Here’s the good news

i. God wants you to pass the test

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Life on earth is a trust.

a. We are stewards of whatever God gives us.

i. I was wasting my God given gift.

ii. Look at the lives that have been changed because I became obedient

b. Here’s the biblical truth

Psalm 24:1 NLT

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

ii. It all belongs to God

iii. It’s just on loan to you

c. Parable of the Three Servants

i. Matthew 25:14-30

ii. It is a serious matter to use the things God has given us.

Luke 12:48 NLT

48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Be a steward of the things God has given you.

i. Like your purpose – talents – gifts

ii. This is why we need take our Christian walk seriously.