TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL

get in some kind of business and make some money. IS THAT HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WORK LIFE? It’s doubtful. I’m sure you had more specific plans in life for making a life and making a living.

ILL.- I left Ozark Christian College in 1969 without finishing and getting a degree. Why? Because I was eager to preach or get involved in a preaching ministry. I felt the urgency of doing the Lord’s work so I left and moved to Iowa for my first so-called full time ministry. It was a small church of about 50 people in a small town of about 500 people. WOW! Was that an education!

I made $75 a week and lived in an old church parsonage which was next door to the church house.

I did not enter the ministry to make money. I entered the ministry to concentrate on serving the Lord anyway I could.What about you? There is nothing wrong with making plans to get an education and try to get a decent job in order to make a living or a life. The problem is when we zero in on only making a living or making money. Making money is a major goal in life and many people have done that in life.

ILL.- My mother’s old boyfriend, Ralph Lee, did that in life. He often worked seven days a week in order to make money and he did. When he died he was worth well over a million dollars but he didn’t know the Lord. His wife was deceased, as was both of his daughters, so all of his money went to his grandchildren.

Even if we get a good education and make a decent wage in life there is one thing we must not do. What’s that? Leave the Lord out of the picture of our lives! James: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?

What is your life? It’s something that God wants to be a big part of! As someone wrote: “God doesn’t want shares of your life, He wants controlling interest.”

As you make any plans in life, (work, vacation, etc.) please include the Lord or what you think is His will. And, of course, His basic will is revealed in scripture. If what you plan to do contradicts scripture then you are also in conflict with God and that’s not good! Include the Lord, seek the Lord in all you do in life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

II. RECOGNIZE HOW QUICKLY LIFE DISAPPEARS

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

From I Samuel 16 we read these words when Samuel anointed David. 1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the