Arrows; Aim Your Life on Purpose
One of the great questions in life is, “Why am I here?”.
We all naturally want to know is there is any purpose to this thing we call life?
This is because seeking fulfillment in life is almost a universal phenomenon.
• And the primary problem stems from the fact that while most everybody knows when they were born, very few know why they were born - and so we are all searching for meaning.
• Your alarm clock can tell you what time to wake up, but it cannot tell you ‘why’ to wake up.
Even this morning, if I were to ask by show of hands, how many people believe that God has a purpose for their lives, almost every hand would be raised.
• Yet if I were to ask how many know their God-given life-purpose, the number of raised hands would drop.
• The truth is most people are living life without knowing what their purpose is.
• Nevertheless, we all yearn to live meaningful lives.
There are discussions everywhere we turn about how to be successful, but how can you define success if you can’t define purpose?
How can you hit the mark if you don’t even know the target?
This morning I want us to look at Psalm 127 as we explore the idea of Purpose and aiming our lives on purpose.
Psalm 127:1-5 (NIV)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
This particular Psalm is one of 15 psalms known as the Songs of Ascent.
• These songs were sung as people traveled to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals.
• The trip was an uphill journey and the songs helped remind them of the purpose of the journey.
• 4 of the songs are attributed to David; This one to Solomon and the rest unknown.
The theme of this one is God’s Blessing on Man’s efforts!
• None of us want our efforts to be in vain
• To Aim Your Life on Purpose; You Must Understand the Purpose for Your Aim!
(That can be difficult when…) One of the most destructive lies of today is the idea that God does not have a purpose for your life, or that you cannot know that purpose.
• You are here by chance or accident. Your existence is random.
• You see, the truth is, that until you find your God-given purpose, life tends to be driven by self-preservation and self-promotion.
• In other words, I become my agenda.
• But when I discover God’s purpose for my life suddenly, there is something greater than I am, something worth aiming my life towards.
Thomas Carlyle wrote, "A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - a waif, a nothing, a no man."
(in other words) “A Bow without an Arrow”; “An Arrow Without a Target”!
Life Has a Purpose and that purpose is knowable…
• Your Purpose Makes You Unique (people seeking uniqueness)
• Purpose is the Key to Fulfillment in life
• God Desires to Accomplish His Purpose in Your Life by helping you find yours!
• You long to know it, and the God of the Universe wants you to, so it is attainable!
So where do we start?
Solomon gives us a great start!
Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
There is a word we hear thrown around a lot today. DYSFUNCTIONAL!
• Families are dysfunctional
• Businesses are dysfunctional
• Governments are dysfunctional
• Since mankind’s failure in the Garden of Eden, the world is dysfunctional!
Building a functional life and family with a sense of purpose in a world of dysfunction, is quite the undertaking!
We start each stage of life with great dreams… but we soon discover
• It takes longer than planned.
• It costs more than you figured.
• It’s messier than you anticipated.
• In fact. It requires greater determination and more patients than expected!
(as we study society) It is becoming more and more evident that Home life is a key component in finding purpose!
That doesn’t mean it is going to be easy, but with God’s help it can be done!
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain”.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON GOD TO BUILD STRONG HOMES.
• All of us make mistakes in our lives and homes. (projects we discover are too much)
• When we do, we need guidance from someone who knows what they are doing.
• Sometimes we need them to clean up the mess we made!
• God desires to be active in your endeavor to find purpose in building your life.
When building any home, the strength of the foundation is of vital importance!
• Great foundation and the rest can be made right (foundation repair…)
• Bad foundation and no matter the patches, apparent beauty of the rest, it will crack and eventually fail!
I. Purpose.
In building our life, family and home.
• Purpose is our foundation.
• The stronger the purpose; The more solid the foundation. The better life we can build.
To Aim Your Life on Purpose; You Must Understand the Purpose for Your Aim
YOU NEED A FOUNDATION, WALLS AND A ROOF.
Luke 6:47-48 (NIV)
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
(Jesus also speaks of the contrasting construction effort)
“ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
All around us we see the results of the breakdown of the family.
• Collapse of morality.
• Drive-by shootings.
• Young people giving up on life too early!
• Many of these problems can be traced directly back to homes without a foundation of Purpose.
"It seems no matter where we look in modern society, we see antagonism, division, and rebellion…
• We have tried education, legislation, and every other approach, but nothing seems to work…
• God’s answer is much simpler, build your house on a foundation of purpose in Christ!
What many want to know is "Does this Jesus thing really work?" (YES)
• If our faith won’t work at home, it won’t work anywhere.
• You may not be able to do anything about our national dilemmas, but you can do something about your family, and your house.
Life today is too much a war zone or disaster area.
Our Homes should be a haven, a place of peace, joy and contentment.
Restoring the foundations of purpose in our homes, will begin to turn the tide in our community and nation!
II. Protection
No doubt once we get our Purpose right, we want to Protect what is being built!
“Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain”.
To me the most important thing in my home worth protecting, is my family!
• Sure, I want the other stuff protected but it can be replaced!
• There are some things of value that aren’t worth a life or death fight.
• But my family…! I will lay it all on the line to protect them!
Our families are under attack!
• From the outside; (onslaught of wrong influences) so, we need to be on watch as to who and what we let in…
• From the inside; (natural testing of boundaries) so, we must set boundaries as to how far we allow those on the inside to go…
This requires the vigilance of a watchman on post 24/7 with the true purpose in mind.
• Alarm systems are huge business…
• People used to leave doors unlocked…
• Now homes at times resemble fortresses…
Yet too often one Essential Ingredient (protection) is left out= the vigilance of God
“Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain”.
To Aim Your Life on Purpose; You Must Understand the Purpose for Your Aim
We must purpose to make God foundational in our home and life.
• Once we do, the vigilance of God is better than a security system, a curfew or even a guard dog!
• We have a dog but not so sure about the guard part! (plastic bag)
• Our house has a security system installed…
• Better than all of the above, “The Lord watches over our house”! (our children saw too much proof of this…)
We did our best to keep our purpose foundational, so they know of His protection first hand!
III. Provision
Naturally, another stressor we face when it comes to aiming our lives on purpose is, “how do I provide for those I value”?
2 “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves”.
This is quite an interesting way to word things…
• So, if I work hard and don’t seem to get anywhere and lie awake at night does that mean God doesn’t love me? (sometimes we think this way)
• But the real question is are you doing those things with the right purpose at heart?
• What are you trying to provide for? What is the aim of your labor?
• Self-agenda or true Purpose?
"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?", a little boy greeted his father as he returned from a long day’s work.
• Don’t bother me now. I’m tired."
• But the boy insisted?
• The father, finally giving up, replied: "15 dollars an hour."
• "Okay, Daddy. Could you lend me two dollars?" the boy asked.
• At first the father told his son no, but later felt guilty for being a little harsh and walked into his room and handed him $2
• The kid took the money with excitement…
• The father expected to hear about the toy his son had his heart set on…
• Now I have $15 can I buy an hour of your time?
Too often we can become so busy trying to provide that we can neglect the real purpose for the provision!
• Working yourself to death in order to buy all the earthly goods this world has to offer is labor in vain when compared to the things that money can’t buy.
• Our families need love. We need to spend time nurturing unconditional love.
• Our families need acceptance. How many lives have been ruined because they never felt acceptance from their own families!
Most of all your family needs you to provide a purpose!
To Aim Your Life on Purpose; You Must Understand the Purpose for Your Aim
Leave an Example of Purpose:
The greatest thing you can leave them is an example of purpose!
• Show them that they are not an accident
• There is a purpose for it all
• The best place to find our purpose is in Jesus Christ!
o You can’t expect them to embrace a purpose that you don’t model
o Purpose is attractive so aim for it
o Embrace it and the Lord will help you build your house
John 15:13 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
“for he grants sleep to those he loves”
