To give life meaning, one must have a purpose larger than one's self

One of the fundamentals of Biblical teaching is that God has implanted
within man an insatiable desire to serve something--better stated,
someone--greater than himself. You and I of course understand that our
purpose in life is to glorify God above, a task which is accomplished as we
serve God and our fellow man.

This very concept is what gives life meaning and makes it worth the living.
A life lived otherwise is rather meaningless, isn't it.

I like how Will Durant said it: "To give life meaning, one must have a
purpose larger than one's self."

However, so many live empty lives because theirs are often about serving
self rather than others. Viktor Frankl said, "Clinics are crowded with
people suffering from a new kind of neurosis, a sense of total and ultimate
meaninglessness of life."

What is your purpose in life? To glorify God? Yes! But how? In short, by
everything that you do, say, or think.

The apostle Paul put it this way: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by
him" (Col. 3:17).

Perhaps your words designed to encourage a soul to become a Christian are
taken as bigoted or unloving. Water off a duck's back--God knows your
intentions and you speak the truth in love.

There may be times when your good works are not seen, but your so-called
inadequacies are. Big deal! Keep glorifying God. He knows your service
record.

Maybe there are times that your thoughts stray from that which is righteous.
If it's but for a moment and you refocus, and this is the exception and not
the rule, don't worry about it. God knows your heart.

Your life has meaning. It has value. That is, if it's lived in service to
God.

I hope you have a great day!

For previous devotionals, visit www.NeilRichey.com.

The play, Once upon a mattress

My wife and I got to go with some good friends to see a High School play
titled: Once upon a mattress. For those who don't know the story line, it is
something like this: To test a girl (who claimed to be a princess) to see if
she was a real princess, a dried pea was placed under 20 mattresses by the
evil queen. If the girl felt the pea it proved she was a real princess
because of her extreme sensitivity. The girl in the play passed the test,
(with a little help from her friends). She felt the pea, proved she was a
real princess and passed the test.


As I thought about that simple play, I thought about how much it mirrored
real life. We often claim to be "real" Christians to our families, our
friends, our co-workers and perhaps the world in general. In fact we can
claim to be real royalty also.1 Peter 2:9 tells us, "But you are not like
that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's
very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God,
for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."


The devil is intent on proving that we are not special, not royalty, not
Christians. Much like the evil queen in the play, he constantly presents us
with tests designed to cause us to fail in being worth to wear the name
"Christian".


Surviving these tests is never easy and often quite unpleasant. It could be
resisting the influence of someone at school or work, or even within your
own family to say some un-Christian word, loose control of our emotions or
participate in some un-Christian act. It might be the influence of the world
that causes us to be tempted to forget our Christian values, morals or
ethics.


Satan tries to hide many lumps under the mattresses that make up the layers
of our lives. The only true protection we have is to remain true to our
relationship to Christ. Our world (guided by Satan) will lie to you and try
to cause you to doubt God, His Word and other believers. I like what Paul
wrote in Romans 3:4, "Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true."


Now in the play, as I said, the princess passed the test because of the help
of her friends. We as Christians need to be there to help one another also;
because that is the only way we will survive in this world. One of my
favorite passages is Hebrews 3:12-14, where we read: "Be careful then, dear
brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and
unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other
every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived
by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting
God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that
belongs to Christ."


This is one of my favorite passages, because I know I can't make it through
this world alone. I need your encouragement in my life and I believe that
you need the encouragement of other Christians also.


How about you, will you be proven royalty or not?

--Russ Lawson

Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses

 

As we're all aware, we're in the midst of a national election season and one of the points being debated (ad nauseam) is the economy. I think that most of us can agree that it's definitely not good, but I'd like to use our economic situation, combined with the words of a prophet of old and a parable told by Christ to bring forth an editorial lesson today.

First, a quick thought on the economy. Yes, it's bad in a lot of ways BUT, most Americans have never had it so good. When you compare the material possessions of most Americans today with a large part of the world, even our poor would be considered to be blessed. I just do not think that Americans have a grasp on what real poverty is and this is what makes this applicable to our lesson.

We have so much, material-wise, in our lives that I feel that our material possessions, and the gaining of them, becomes the most important thing in our lives. God especially takes at least second place and maybe even lower than that. Perhaps if we, as a society, weren't so materialistically motivated, didn't have it so good, we might be more concerned with having God in our lives instead of possessions. Just my way of thinking anyway.

Back in the days of ancient Israel they had reached the situation that I think this country has reached - they were so affluent and absorbed in their material possessions that they had forgotten God. Like America today, they had probably never had it so good, life was pleasant and enjoyable and they seemed to be consumed by their possessions. Yeah, life was good at that time. Didn't need God.

But good old Amos had a message for Israel and we can read some words he said to them that speaks to what God thought about their current situation. In Amos 6:1 he said, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." I don't how you feel about that word "Woe," but I don't see it as being very pleasant, especially if it's aimed at me. The Hebrew definition of that word mean things like "alas" or "oh no" or is said to be an expression of "lamenting." I don't think one "laments" over something good, do they?

Doesn't it seem that when times are not so good, when people are lacking in the worldly material things, that they are closer to God. It was that way with Israel and I fear that it's that way with us today. People just don't seem to need God when things are going good, do they? God was concerned with His people back in Amos' day and I have faith that He is still concerned about us today.

Yep, Israel was sitting there pretty good in Amos's time. They had taken their "ease" as the verse says. Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated in English as "ease" means "to be secure" but in a bad context. As in "haughtily" secure. Amos knew that their souls were in danger with God by their false security, based on their possessions. Why I say "false security" is because that's where their faith lay and not in being concerned with being secure in God.

In the 12^th chapter of Luke, verses 13-21 we find a situation similar to Israel and we read what Jesus Christ had to say about it. The situation: a young man comes out of a crowd and asks Jesus for a favor. He wants Jesus to tell his brother to share his inheritance with him. In response to the young man's request, Jesus tells him and the crowd a parable, sometimes referred to as the parable of the rich fool.

Important to note though is that before starting the parable, He makes the statement that I used as a lead-in to our lesson: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." He then goes into His story about "the rich man" who had all the good things of life in abundance.

Yes, he had so much of the world's goods that had run out of space to store anymore "things." So, his solution was to build himself some more and bigger barns and storage facilities and amass more goodies. After he spent his efforts at doing this, gaining more and more things, when he felt that he was economically secure, he could tell his soul "take thine ease." Remember how the word "ease" applies here?

He had spent his life's efforts at gaining the good things, the material possessions that would make him "economically secure." And when he had reached that plateau he could "take his ease" and he'd be secure (haughtily). Or, so he thought. Look at what God had to say about his plan. "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will those things be which you have provided?" (Vs. 20)

Back a few paragraphs ago I mentioned that many people seem to have made the most important thing in their life the gaining of material possessions. Yes, we have to have the necessities, but we don't stop there, do we? It just seems like the more we get, the more we want. Are we ever satisfied? Shouldn't we really understand that it's not "the abundance of things" that make us rich?

The last verse of Jesus' parable answers the question I just asked. He closed his story about the "rich fool" with these words: "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Vs. 21)

I think that we need to seriously consider whether we've gotten ourselves into the situations that Israel and the "rich man" had arrived at. In the sense of material possessions, have we gotten ourselves so rich as a nation, as a society, that we've forgotten the character and spirit that established us as a nation? Are we now "sitting at ease" and have forgotten God?

When you look back at history, yes Israel was "haughtily" secure and "at ease." They had left God and in that condition, they had set themselves up for a fall. And, the fall came. In parallel, can we, as a nation, be doing the same thing? I have a great fear of that happening.

As a closing thought, spiritually speaking, just like we can't trust in our riches and "take our ease" neither can we, as Christians, "retire" from our duties. We can't think that our soul is so secure that we can "take our ease" and rest on whatever we've already done for the cause of Christ. We only have a short time, whatever our life span on earth is, to make our "calling and election sure" and then we can rest, "take our ease" for eternity. As John tells us in Rev. 2:10 "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life."

Ron Covey

God Are You Out There?

In Don England's book, God Are You Really There, England writes about a
young man named Brian. Brian has just turned 18 and he is thinking about all
of his accomplishments in his short life. He's excited about his High School
graduation and is anxiously awaiting beginning his college career.

However, those thoughts of excitement turned to depression when he learned
that a very dear friend was hit by a drunk driver and now is in the hospital
with very little hope for survival.

Brian walks outside in the yard and looks to the heavens and asks, "God are
you really there?"

Harold Kushner, Jewish author, once asked and subsequently wrote a book
entitled, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." The reality is, bad
things do happen to good folks just because that's part of life. We might
call it the human predicament.

Sometimes those bad things cause us to question God, but sometimes when our
heart is not guarded it will cause us to question our faith in God.

It's okay to question God--Jesus did. You remember when Jesus looked to the
heavens and asked, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mt. 27:46).

The difference between His questioning and ours is that His questioning was
never a lack of faith or trust. Sometimes ours is.

The Hebrews writer said, "But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).

God are you really there? Oh yes, He's there! And He cares for you and me.

I hope you have a great day!

For previous devotionals, visit www.NeilRichey.com.

why get an annual exam?

When's the last time you went in for a physical examination? I guess for
about two years now I've given extra attention to my physical health. I've
tried to eat healthier and be more active in my lifestyle so as to get more
physical exercise.

My doctor monitors my health with a full physical each year and tells me
about the importance of self-examination and follow through. His words: "If
you take care of yourself doing what I say, you'll be fine." Of course, I
realize there's no crystal ball, and one day I may not be fine--but that's
true for any of us. However, if we take care of ourselves, and practice
self-examination and follow up with the doctor, it is far more likely that
we'll be healthy longer.

Additionally, it's important that we regularly examine who we are, and how
we're living.

I read about a young man who was overheard making a telephone call to a man
about lawn service. The call went like this:

Hello, sir, I was calling to see if you needed a lawn boy. Oh, you have one.
Well, is he adequate? Oh, he is! Thank you, I was just checking," said the
young boy.

The one who was listening in on the conversation felt sorry for the boy who
placed the call and said that he was sorry he didn't get the job. To his
surprise, the young man said:

Oh, no sir. I've got the job. I was just calling to check up on myself.

When's the last time you checked up on yourself?

Have you checked on your attitude lately?

Perhaps the words you use or the stories you tell need to be revisited.

Are you as spiritually minded as you ought to be?

Are you engaged in church work?

Are you regular in your worship attendance?

Are you the family person you need to be?

The Bible says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. 13:5).

Self-examination is important in the life of every Christian.

I hope you have a great day!

For previous devotionals, visit www.NeilRichey.com.

Who is a trrue saint?

I recently read the story about a boy who went to a worship service in a
beautiful ornate church building. It had stained-glass windows with pictures
of individuals made to represent "Saint Matthew," "Saint Mark," Saint Luke,"
and "Saint John" to name a few.

When the boy grew older he was asked to define "saint." He reflected on the
beautiful stain glass windows through which the sun shined brightly. He
said, "A saint is a person whom the light shines through."

I've heard several folks who claim to be Christians exclaim, "I'm no saint!"
However, my Bible tells me something different about one who is a true New
Testament Christian. A Christian is a saint. Phillipians 4:21 says, "Salute
every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you."

Who are the saints? All those who "are in Christ." What does it mean to be
in Christ? It means to be a Christian. Every Christian is in Christ.

Now, not every saint acts like one. In other words, not every saint let's
the light shine through.

What about you? Maybe you need to take out the Windex and clean the glass so
that the light will shine through and show the glorious light of Jesus
Christ. We call that the blood of Jesus. As Christians, when we make
mistakes, falter, and fall, God will forgive us if we but ask him, and
repent of our sinfulness.

Is the light of Jesus shining through your life? Are you acting like a saint
should act?

I hope you have a wonderful day!

For previous devotionals, visit www.NeilRichey.com.

Sending Them Off With Prayer

Recently, the Lewisville (TX) church of Christ hosted their annual "Sending
Them Off With Prayer" Night. During this gathering, the church prays for
everyone involved in the beginning of a new school year.

This year, the Lewisville church added something new: Bibles were given to
all of the children who were entering the first grade. These rising
first-graders were called to the front of the building with their parents
and were presented with a Bible by the minister, Jeff Jenkins.

Jeff related some of the responses from these first graders:

"One of our parents sent me a picture of her little girl in bed the night
before her first day of school and she is holding her Bible."

"Another one of our students came up to me during the next church service
and said, 'Mr. Jeff, look, I brought my new Bible!'"

"Another parent sent me the following story about her daughter: 'Avery was
SO EXCITED tonight when she received her Bible at church. She quickly
noticed it had a map in the back. She looked up at me and said, "Mommy,
look, it has a map; now I will never be lost."'"

Jeff smiled and thought to myself, "You are right. this Bible is your map so
you will never be lost." *

The Bible, God's Word, IS our map. It reveals where we are, where we are
headed, and our desired destination.

The Bible reveals that we are lost in sin, and the wages of sin is DEATH
(Romans 6:23).

But the Bible also reveals that God loves us so much that He gave His Son
Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we might have forgiveness of
our sins and have access to the Way to eternal life in heaven (John 3:16).
Jesus is that Way (John 14:6).

The Bible gives us the following directions to reach our proper Destination
(Heaven): place your faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), repent of sin
(Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Then we must continue to follow Heaven's Road Map for the rest of our lives,
being careful not to "veer off course" (1 John 1:7). We must continue to
follow that narrow and difficult way which leads to life everlasting
(Matthew 7:13-14).

"Your Word is a LAMP to my feet And a LIGHT to my path." - Psalm 119:105

Yes, Avery, God has given us a Map (His Word) so that we will never be
lost - IF we will read and heed His instructions.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent