The movie, “Titanic,” while not breaking into my top 10 films of all time, did have a very thought-provoking scene where, as the ship was sinking and chaos ruled around them, the musicians continued playing their tunes on the deck of the ship.
Apparently they felt it their duty to be sure the ship had some good music to sink by. It’s scary to think that many of us do the same thing with our lives, content to “play on” out of a misplaced sense of duty as everything around us sinks into chaos.
Staying afloat in today’s world requires planning. We need to ask ourselves three questions:
n The first question should focus on our life’s foundation. We need to ask, “What will be the center of my life?
Who or what am I going to live for?” When the storms of life hit, we need a solid foundation, which is why some of us wisely choose to center our life in knowing God.
That is the best choice because, as Proverbs 9:10 teaches us, “Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding.”
When I understand who God is, I’m going not only going to understand the world around me better, I’m going to actually begin to understand who I am and what my purpose is in the bigger scheme of things.
n A second question we should ask is, “What kind of character traits will I have?”
For Christians, the answer is found in Romans 8:29, “God decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son.” Philippians 2:5 tells us God wants us to have the same kind of attitude Jesus had.
His was an attitude of humility, meekness, patience, mercy, love and acceptance.
If these traits characterize your life, you are going in the right direction. Any that are missing should be diligently pursued, starting today!
n A third question we should ask is, “What will I do with what God has given me?” You weren’t put on earth just to take and consume; you were put here to make a contribution with your life … to put something into this world that will make it a better place.
“God has given each of you some special abilities. Be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (1 Peter 4:10).
There are two types of people in this world: givers and takers. You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. You need to ask, “What am I going to do with what God has given me?”
God wants to say something to the world through you … something unique that only you can say.
He wants you to tell others about the impact he has had on your life. If you don’t tell others that it is God who is making the difference in your life, how will they know?
Does that mean God wants you to be a missionary like Paul? Not necessarily. What he wants is for you to communicate his message of love and grace in a way that’s consistent with the way he shaped you.
For example, if you are a Christian, God has given you one or more spiritual gifts. If one of those is the gift of mercy, God wants you to be telling others about Christ through your love and compassion.
If you have the gift of exhortation, He wants you to communicate through a message of encouragement. Each of us is unique, and no one can do the job God put you here to do; no one can take your place!
Author Steven Covey suggests that you determine your life mission by considering the end of your life.
He suggests that you imagine yourself at your own funeral hearing a eulogy about yourself given by four people in your life: someone from your family, someone from your church, someone from your workplace, and a close personal friend.
He says to think about how you would like to hear your life portrayed, and then sit down and write out a life message based on what you want people to say about you.
That’s a good plan, but it’s not good enough, because what really matters at the end of your life is not what other people say; what matters is what God is going to say. More on that next week.
Henry Harris is lead pastor of Rolling Hills Community Church, 330 Tres Pinos Rd. in Hollister. If you have questions or comments, please visit the church Web site at www.rollinghillsfamily.com, e-mail pa*********@****************ly.com or phone (831) 636-5353.
