for me to live is...

let me ask you a question. can you sum up the purpose of your life in a single sentence? everybody wants to live a long time, but why? life is not judged by its duration but by its donation – what you put into it and into the lives of other people.

the sad thing is that so many people i meet are giving first class allegiance to second class causes and those causes are betraying them. they climb the ladder of success and get to the top and find it's leaning against the wrong wall. and you'll say, "is that all there is? i gave my life for this? what a waste!" other people couldn't care less about you. while you're so busy impressing everybody they're not even watching you. they're looking at themselves. don't worry about what other people will think.

how would you finish this statement, for me to live is __________________

some of you men would say "for me to live is my career." you're going to give your blood, sweat and tears for your career and then it's going to be over.

some of you would say, "for me to live is popularity." or "for me to live is to have a nice home" or "for me to live is sex" or "for me to live is food" ...

i want to suggest that there is only one answer to that blank that is going to last 100 years from now or even 50 much less 10,000. you're going to spend more of your life on that side of death than you are on this side. there's only one answer and that is the answer that paul gives, philippians 1.21 (niv), for to me, to live is CHRIST.

what he's talking about is having a relationship to the one who made you. GOD made you for a purpose. you're not here by accident and to take up space. when you discover that purpose and get right in the center of it, it fits! and you feel fulfilled and you realize that is why you're here. not religion but relationship. paul did not say, "for me to live is religion" or church, bible study, or ministry. no, he said the only thing worth living for is a relationship with the ONE who made me.

what about you?

just an important question from the front porch...