SOMETHING WORTH LIVING FOR!

TEXT: Philippians 3:7-16

INTRODUCTION: Do you ever wake up with the hum-drum, lackluster feeling that it's just going to be another monotonous day like so many before it? Do you ever feel that what you are doing is as meaningful as gathering cobwebs or counting the squares of tile in your shower? We feel, somehow, life ought to be different than that! We are often misled into thinking that life ought to be one adventure, one joy, one blast, one thrill after another; we are urged to "Go for the gusto," and to "Drive excitement!" For most of us there is a certain amount of "grind" and "sameness" to our days, yet life is meant to have purpose and meaning and direction. Jesus said: "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" John 10:10. We will enjoy abundant life if, and when, we find something worth living for. Paul's chronicle of moving from existence to life is recorded in the text: how can we, like Paul, realize something worth living for?

I.          DETERMINING IT MEANS SETTING CLEAR PRIORITIES V7:

A.        Not all things or pursuits are of equal value.

B.        There are good things and better things and the best things.

1.      Paul learned what is truly important and he put those things in the proper position of paramount prominence in his system of priorities.

C.        Many need to learn that!

1.      A facetious little poem reminds us: "As you travel down life's pathway, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!" What's the message?

2.      Center thoughts, desires and interests on worthy, lasting things, not tawdry, fleeting ones.

3.      Don't be sidetracked and derailed by nonessentials which contribute nothing to your soul.

4.      Don't be so occupied with the things of this earth that we lose sight of things above.

5.      Certainly we must fulfil earthly responsibilities, but let us never forget the matters which have eternal significance.

D.        That's what these verses mean:

1.      When we put God and His will first, He takes care of other items of lesser import.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."

2.      With eyes wide open we are to choose the best from all life's choices.

Philippians 1:9, 10 "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ."

3.      Whatever brings us nearer Jesus is the one essential, and that's the good part.

Luke 10:41, 42 Jesus said to fretful Martha, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Like Paul, Wanamaker's priorities were right He opened a department store in Philadelphia and was extremely successful at it. He became Postmaster General of the United States and served as superintendent for the largest Sunday School in the world. When someone asked him how he balanced all those tasks, he said, "Early in life I read, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' The Sunday School is my business, all the rest are the things." In his store he had a soundproof room built where he spent 30 minutes each day in prayer and meditation on God's word.

II.       PURSUING IT MEANS TURNING YOUR BACK ON SOME THINGS: VV8, 9

A.        Paul's former claims to success are now compared to a pile of refuse. He didn't try to keep the old and meld it with the new! The old had to go; it was finis, kaput, done with and useless.

B.        So we are told to put off some things:

1.      Colossians 3:5 (NLT) "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry."

2.      Colossians 3:8, 9 (NLT) "But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds."

3.      1 Peter 4:3 (NLT) "You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy - their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols."

4.      Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT) " When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

C.        There are some of our former attitudes, practices, associations which are not only useless, but are actual detriments to serving Jesus Christ. They need to be abandoned, jettisoned, cast away, not carried along with our new faith.

1.      Ballast must be cast off before a dirigible can rise.

2.      A runner strips off all superfluous garments to run unbound; to run well, we must run light.

3.      Dragsters are lightened in every way possible to eliminate milliseconds from their times.

A young violinist was asked the secret of her success. "Planned neglect." was her answer. She continued, "Years ago I discovered that there were many things demanding my time. After washing breakfast dishes, I made  my bed, straightened my room, dusted the furniture and did a host of other chores. I then turned my attention to violin practice. That system, however, failed to accomplish the desired results.  So I realized I had to reverse things. I deliberately set aside everything else until my practice period ended. That program of planned neglect accounts for my success."

III.    ATTAINING IT MEANS PUTTING OUT SUPREME EFFORT: VV13, 14:

A.        Paul used racing terms similar to our "going flat out for the finish!"

1.      He brings the image of a runner opening up the sprint as the final lap comes to an end; he is bent forward, his focus is on the goal, he strains every fiber of his being to make the finish line.

B.        Many are rather casual about their Christian life; sort of "ho-hum" about it.

1.      Some put more enthusiasm into waxing their car, or tending their yard, or maintaining their physique than they do their covenant with god.

2.      Some are aptly compared to king Amaziah of whom it is said in 2 Chronicles 25:2 "He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart."

C.        We need to emulate the attitude expressed in these verses:

1.      1 Chronicles 28:9 "And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

2.      Ezra 7:23 "whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, lest there be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons."

3.      Proverbs 12:27 (NLT) "Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find."

4.      Romans 12:11 (NLT) "Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically."

5.      Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."

D.        At 17 years of age F. B. Meyer was called to the mission field. His mother reminded him that his decision would involve sacrifice and difficulty. She hinted that if he regretted his decision, he could always leave the ministry. He looked her in the eye and said, "Never, Mother! That would be putting my hand to the plow and looking back." He never retreated, never slackened his pace, and did great work for God as a missionary. All because he put out supreme effort and never looked back.

CONCLUSION: For what are you living? What is your chief goal in life? Does it relate mostly to your creature comforts? To status? To physical senses? Does it focus on the material and earthly? And where does Jesus and his will fit in? He deserves to be first and foremost, Lord of every aspect of life: body, money, time, talent, relationships, goals, vocation. Living for Jesus means giving him authority over all those things. Living for Jesus means living a life of service for others; living for Jesus means being a productive, faithful part of his body the church. If you want something worth living for, live for Jesus. The song challenges to that, who will accept the challenge? Those who do will find something worth living for in Jesus.