Life Indeed! - From His Heart - Week of April 28, 2016

Have you ever felt that life was a drag?  Have you ever had such a bad case of the blahs that everything in your life seemed dull, uneventful and monotonous?   
 
What is the deal?  Is life just that way?  Is it merely an exercise in which you draw your breath and draw your salary and go through the motions, experiencing only short little snippets of elation along the way… or is life designed by God to be exciting, eventful, joyous and fun most of the time? 
 
Of course, the second answer is correct… but why does the first answer seem to characterize our lives more?  Could it be that we have missed how to “take hold of that which is life indeed”? (1 Tim. 6:19). 
 
TAKING HOLD OF LIFE INDEED
 
Jesus came to give us life… abundant life.  You and I need to quit settling for adequate life when abundant life is on the table.  Based on 1 Tim. 6:17-19, here are five steps on how to take hold of His abundant life (that which is life indeed)… and really live life the way God intended.
 
1. Trust God, not money.         
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).   It is amazing how many people fix their hope on riches.  Listen: money is a great servant, but it is a terrible master.  Money is uncertain – here today and gone tomorrow – and so limited.  It can buy sex, but not love… pills, but not peace… attendants, but not friends… medicine, but not health… thrills, but not joy.  If you want to take hold of life indeed, keep your eyes on the Lord and trust in Him.  He is certain and unlimited.  He is always faithful and can handle any problem that comes into your life.         
    
2.  Focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have.  
God richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  We are to be thankful and grateful for ALL that He provides.  He has given us blessings to enjoy.  The quickest way to misery is to constantly long for things you do not have and miss the joy of what you do have.  Quit comparing your life to someone else’s!  Run the race God has given you and enjoy your health, family, friends, church, talents, and abilities.  Whether you have little or much, be thankful for it and use it for His glory.                               
 
3.  Do good to others, not evil.   
“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works” (1 Tim. 6:18).  One of the quickest ways to get out of depression is with acts of service.  If you start doing good to other people, especially those who cannot repay you or do not deserve it, God will give you a great blessing in return.  Doing good makes you feel good about yourself and the impact you are making on people.      
 
4.  Be generous, not stingy.    
“… to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim. 6:18).  As Christians, we represent Christ to this world.  How do people see Him through us… as stingy or generous?  God does not dole out blessings with an eyedropper.  He richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Give generously and liberally to the Lord’s work.  Tip waiters and waitresses generously.  Give to people who are in need.  The Lord will see it and reward you for it.      
 
5.  Live for the eternal, not the temporal.                   
“… storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed” (1 Tim. 6:19).  Remember, this life is but a drop in the bucket compared to eternity… and this life is merely preparation for eternity.  The world that really matters is not the present one but the one to come.  It is foolish to put all our time and treasure into this world and neglect the Kingdom of God.  Live for the life to come… invest your time, treasure and talents in heaven’s bank.  Better to be relatively poor on earth for 80 years and rich in heaven for all eternity, than vice versa.  As a Christian, remember that your citizenship is in heaven.  You are just passing through this world, so live like it.   
 
Life indeed is yours for the taking.  The big question is… will you take hold of it?

P.S.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  Direct questions and comments to pastorjeff@fromhisheart.org.