Preached @ Metro 26th February 2006 Jeff Williams

Deut 30:19 - Today I have given you the choice , between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Question: Are we defined by what we do, or by who we are?

So often it is what we do, when you meet a new person, one of the first questions will be what do you do?

What do we do with these lives we have?

The Bible tells us that God has a plan for our lives, but how does this affect what we do with our lives?

Eccl 2:11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (NIV)

Eccl 4:4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (NIV)

Eccl 5:18-20

Find satisfaction

Eccl 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him-- for this is his lot.

Be happy in his work

Eccl 5:19-20 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-- this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. (NIV)

He says ... Work in the proper perspective should bring enjoyment!

Eccl 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. (NIV)

Some questions to ask

Do we have a job or a calling/a purpose?

Do we separate what we do from who we are, or are they some how tied together?

Why do we work? – to provide food a house etc. Matthew 6 tells us that if we seek first the kingdom of God then He will take care of all of that.

“Everyone who lives dies, but not everyone who dies has lived!”

Are we really living and HOW?

Lay Hold on Your Calling

Philippians 3:
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christand be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

How do we find out what we are suppose to do with our lives?

1. Understand that God has made us and put us together

READ Psalm 139 we are fearfully and wonderfully made, God has knit us together in our mother’s womb.

• Talents
• Giftings
• Abilities
• Personality etc

He’s made us the way we are for a reason.

2. Satisfaction in life leads from living a life bigger than your self.

3. What do you like doing

And find ways to using those abilities and interests to help others, either through paid work or volunteer work.

4. Take time to appreciate what you have and enjoy it

Some are always thinking one day , waiting for the big break! Enjoy the journey – simple things:

• Friends
• Food
• Creation
• The rain
• Our children
  

5. A relationship with our creator God

Allow Him to lead you. People are big into personal trainers these days. Allow Jesus to be your personal trainer.

Romans 12:1 (The Message) Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.