WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LIFE?
A. Money? (“The one with the most toys when he dies, wins.”)
1. Money is FLEETING (Matthew 6:19-21) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
a. Cannot SERVE two masters (Matthew 6:24) “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
b. LOVE of money (1 Timothy 6:3-10)
2. Do we LIVE for our job?
3. Money has a PLACE in life, but NOT as our focus
B. Pleasure? (“IF it feels good, do it!”)
1. Pleasure is ALSO fleeting (Hebrews 11:24-25) “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”
a. Sin DOES have pleasure…BUT it is TEMPORARY
2. The World offers MUCH pleasure (1 John 2:16) “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
a. But it is used by the devil to TRAP, NOT to free (James 1:14-17) “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
3. Not ALL pleasure is sinful, but, like MONEY, it should not be our focus
C. Family? (“My children are my life.”)
1. Have to love family LESS than Jesus (Luke 14:26) “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
2. The home was instituted by GOD
a. We should not focus on the home (the created) above God (the creator)
D. Jesus?
1. Jesus DEMANDS to be the focus of our life (Luke 9:23-26)
2. Paul’s life was not just ABOUT Christ, it WAS Christ (Philippians 1:21) “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
3. Jesus DIED for us, and we must LIVE for him (Galatians 2:20) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
A. If we FOCUS on anything OTHER than Jesus, any “relief” we may feel from the pain and suffering of life is illusory or temporary.
B. Jesus is the “Great Physician.” Only HE can permanently “heal” and relieve our pain.
C. OBEY JESUS NOW! B-R-C-B-F
D. Focus your life on HIM!