Don't Waste Your Life

In today’s society its easy to become distracted by the various entertainments, the routines of life, even the blessings and gifts from God can become a distraction from God himself. We can even become so focused on righteous living that we forget the Righteous One. You see our true goal is not simply to enjoy life, to uphold our responsibilities and obligations, or even to obtain a high moral life, rather the goal of life is to have an intimate relationship with God in which we truly seek to know, love and serve him. So often people think that knowing God is impossible this side of heaven, and in the sense of knowing everything it is and I’m not sure that we will know everything about God in heaven either, but what is certainty possible and should be our lives ambition is to know God intimately this side of heaven. To love him with such great love that our love for the things of this world are nothing in comparison. Having said that let me be the first to admit that I struggle with that kind of love, I find myself concerned with the things of this world more often than I care to admit. Yet I have been convicted as I studied for this message that what God desires most from us is that we love him as he first loved us. How did God love us, he gave himself up for us. You look at all the great heroes of faith; Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel and the prophets, Paul and all the apostles, they all had a deep loving relationship with God. What changed their lives, even to affect our own is that they truly loved God above all else. Abraham chose God over everything he knew, Joseph chose God over the pleasure of Potiphers wife, Moses chose God over the comforts of Egypt, David chose God over his wife father in law and fought for God all the days of his life, the prophets and apostles were beaten imprisoned and killed because they chose God over the commands of men. Let us look at John 6:22-29 as we consider how to live lives of eternal significance rather than wasting them away.

John 6:22–29 ESV

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Seek Jesus Correctly

John 6:22–26 ESV

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

We often tell people they should seek Jesus

but is that really enough?

I think there is a right and wrong way to seek Jesus

The crowds see the disciples leave to go to Capernaum but Jesus is not with them. They then follow the disciples knowing at some point they will meet up again with Jesus. When they find the disciples they also find Jesus and are confused. When did you get here?

Notice Jesus response. He does not praise them for seeking him out rather he gives a rebuke.

You are seeking me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Signs and miracles were used by God to designate who his real prophets were. How were the people supposed to know when someone claimed to hear from God that they really had, by the signs and miracles that were beyond the power of mortal men. The miracles were validation of the message. Thus people should believe Jesus message because of his miracles.

Yet the people were more interested in the miracles themselves they wanted more bread.

They had no desire for knowledge of God much less a real relationship with him. They did not desire God in their lives only what he could do for them. I think many Christians are stuck here. How often are our prayers give me this, I want that, remove this burden or this pain. However I think we need to take a lesson from Paul in Ephesians 1:17-20

Ephesians 1:17–20 ESV

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

I want to hone in on two things here

God grant you knowledge and understanding to know God better

receive insight to know your great hope inheritance and the power of salvation

So many times we are satisfied with a foundation level knowledge of spiritual things but what would happen if every member of Trinity Baptist Church decided we wanted to pursue spiritual growth this year. If we all pledged that we would seek to know God better to better appreciate our hope of our calling as Christians, the rich inheritance promised us as children of God, and the mighty power of salvation God has displayed in Christs sacrificial death burial and resurrection.

These are the things we should desire most, these are the things we should pursue not wealth, or entertainment, or even good morality but rather to truly know and love God. Does that mean we should be poor miserable and evil people no rather that these are not the end goals these are not our supreme desires these are not the end game but rather these are at best tools with which to love and serve God. If your wealth stands in the way of loving God then cast it away for the supreme value of God, if your entertainment stands in the way of spending time with God then cast it away that you might know the one who made you, If your morality blinds you to the will of God to love those around you despite their sins remember Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

My friends I think one of the greatest dangers present in our churches today is that we seek Jesus for what he can do for us rather than for who he is. Why is it that most people identifying themselves as Christians do not have a daily quiet time with God because they are only concerned with God when they need something they have no desire to know Him personally. Thats really the issue here is do you desire Jesus for who he is or do you desire Jesus for what he can do for you.

Do the Work of God

People often wonder what does God want me to do with my life. This question frequently comes when someone is considering a job change rather it is a change in field, companies, or maybe just a promotion opportunity. Which one would God rather me have. I believe the answer lies in these next few verses.

John 6:27–29 ESV

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Do not work for the food that perishes - Is Jesus really telling us not to work for our food. He can’t be because 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Clearly God wants us to provide for ourselves rather in this context Jesus is concerned about priorities. He is saying let not your priority be the job at which you provide food for yourself this is necessary to sustain life but rather let your focus be on the food that endures to eternal life. What is this food and how do we work for it. Jesus tells them you do the works of God by believing in Jesus Christ. The food that endures is salvation and the work of God is our placing our trust in Jesus and gaining the gift of Salvation from God. Thus we see the two sides of the coin of salvation. It is both a gift from God freely given by the sacrificial death burial and resurrection of Christ in which none of had any part. Yet we must accept it as truth and place our faith in Jesus Christ in order to gain it. Therefore both God and us have an action in salvation.

Now imagine a person who lives in a village that has experienced a famine. Their crops have failed and winter is coming and there is no food. They have rationed what food they have but now even it is almost gone soon they will starve to death. So it is decided someone must go seek out food. A man is chosen and sent out and after searching for 2 days he sees smoke. Following it he finds a large house where he is greeted by a kind man who invites him in to eat. There he finds a large banquet is prepared and he is told to eat. He does so until he is satisfied then the food is taken away and all his needs are met. The owner of the house tells him he can live here as his servant and eat all he wants for there is more than enough but the man knows his village is hungry and the owner has plenty to feed them all. It would be wrong of the man to stay and enjoy the new life he has found without sharing it with all his village. Yet many Christians are enjoying the benefits of Christ and never share it with those lost in sin around us dying and going to hell. Paul says in Romans 10:14

Romans 10:14 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Problem with the word preaching

We think of the word preacher the same as the word pastor. The pastor is the shepherd role of leadership within the church. We serve as under-shepherds to Christ and seek to guide protect and strengthen the church. That is the duty of a pastor.

When we think of preaching we think this is what the Pastor does on Sunday morning service he preaches the message of God, and in Sunday school, Wednesday night Sunday night we have teaching where God word is explained yet we don't think of it as preaching. Yet I would argue it is preaching. You see the biblical word here simply means to announce its the word used of the town crier as he announces or preaches the news in the square. Thus this word is not a special action done by the pastor but rather a common word used that anyone can do. See not all have the position of pastor yet all of us are to be preachers called to announce the gospel. We should all be sharing it with those around us.

Jesus when he says the work of God is to believe in him who he sent is not just speaking of salvation but of all he said and did and indeed all of who he is.

If Jesus is really God and Jesus really has the power to save us from sin and he really loves us and he desires to have a relationship with us and he wants the same for all men then this is the greatest news, the greatest gift we could ever share. If we really believe that this is true then we would share Jesus with everyone. The question is will you do the work of God will you believe in Jesus. The work does not stop at salvation but begins with it.

Invitation

My question for you this morning is are you Seeking Jesus for who he is or what he can do for you? Do you desire to know him and his truths more or do you just desire his miracles and his blessings. Let us seek the greatest treasure of all to know and love the God who knows and loves you. Then let us go and tell others about him. To do otherwise is to waste the precious life Jesus gave to us. Would you rather your life meant something eternally or would you rather waste it on the things of the world that will be burnt up in the fire on the day of judgement?

Yet maybe you have never felt the love of God in your life you do not know him at all but you want to. All you have to do is call out to him in your heart admit your sin before him that you are not perfect that you have fallen short of his perfection, and you are in need of someone to fix your brokenness. That person is Jesus Christ, God himself who came down to live a perfect life to die as a sacrifice a substitute for you that you might live despite your sin. Yet by his own power he raised himself up from the dead conquering sin, death and the grave. Place your faith your trust in Jesus and his death and accept him as Lord and Savior of your life and you will be saved. This is the good news of Salvation will you accept him today? I’m going to pray and then we will sing a song of invitation if you have a decision to make I ask that you come forward so we can pray with you and encourage you.