24 Aug Finding Meaning In Our Lives
Pastor Vincent - 22 May 2014
Faith Before God, Love Among Men
We are always affected by what people think of us. We try hard to make people acknowledge our doings, at the same time, we want others to live up to our expectations. Just as it’s said in Romans 14: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. God is always looking at the attitude of our hearts, not the works per se. Through the message today, may we be broken down before Lord again as He reveals the self-righteousness and judgmental spirit in us, and replace it with His love through His work on the cross. A right understanding of faith enables one to look at others in God's love and truth. As a result, it gives birth to a heart that is full of compassion not mere conscience, a heart full of acceptance instead of being judgmental. May Lord perfect our faith each day as we seek to acknowledge Him even among men.
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* The quest for significance (meaning) is built into our humanness.
* Man is created with lasting and higher meaning as image bearers of God.
* Meaninglessness actually leads to boredom, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency and even suicide.
* Sociologist Durkheim – Greatest number of suicides are caused by anomie, something rendered by meaninglessness. (Anomic suicide takes place when somebody has no goal or purpose in life, or if he has an unattainable goal in his life)
* Quality of church teaching has to increase to truly give meaning to the inner soul.
Verses to Read: <Ecclesiastes 2:1-11>
- Sigmund Freud – Man has the will to pleasure
- Alfred Adler – Man has the will to power
- Word of God – Man has the will to meaning
Solomon couldn’t find meaning through his heart
* Our fallen hearts can only tell us there is no meaning.
* Only God’s truth points us to where true meaning lies.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
<Ecclesiastes 12:13-14>.
God’s Commandments and Judgment
* Commandments – What we are created for?
* Judgment – What we are ultimately destined for?
① Commandment of Reigning <Gen 1:28>
② Commandment of Obedience <Gen 2:16-17>
The Fall
* Continue to reign, yet in disobedience
* Mankind will destroy each other eventually
Restoration of “true meaning” through Christ
1) Dignity and worth as God’s image bearer – Do His will
2) Eternity
3) Morality
4) Call to excellence
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