Got Purpose?

July 10, 2016       Notes Not Edited
Got Purpose?
Psalm 1

SIS:  The purpose you pursue determines the path you follow and the end you meet.

Does it really matter where you are going in life, or just that you enjoy the trip?  Many might say that the destination does not matter, it is only the journey.  I can appreciate that view to some degree, but I’m not sure it is a satisfactory way to live one’s life.  I believe in “enjoying the moment.”  I believe in enjoying the trip.  But, having a purpose for our travels is much more important.

A few years ago a newspaper account in a Saint Louis, Missouri, paper told of a trip William and Violet Kaczmark, a couple in their 80’s,  took to celebrate a family event near their home in the city of Flourissant.  The trip was a short one to a neighboring city just south of their home.  As often happens in life, the couple got lost.  Not just lost, but hopelessly lost.  As also is often the case, Violet suggested they stop and ask for directions but William rejected the idea.  He just kept driving.  The story would just be like so many other “I’m-a-guy-and-guys-don’t-ask-for-directions” story, but it went way beyond that.  William kept on driving.  They drove all night.  They even stopped for gas three times.  Of course after driving for 24 hours they missed the family gathering.  The family, worried about the elderly couple, called the police.  The police put a call out to squad cars and gave the information to local radio stations.  Another motorist fortuitously heard the radio announcement and recognized the couples’ car.  He convinced them to pull over and then to wait for the police to arrive.  End of the story:  over 24 hours later they arrived home, safe and sound.  They had missed the family celebration.  They had driven for over 24 hours, and yet their entire trip had absolutely no purpose.  They traveled a lot of miles but in the end they simply ended up pulling into their own driveway.

Our destination in life really does matter.  The purpose for our life is what determines the path we travel and ultimately the destination to which we arrive.

Do you recall the fabulous children's story, Alice In Wonderland?At one point in the topsy-turvy, upside-down world of Wonderland, Alice meets a mysterious critter, called the Cheshire Cat,  at a crossroads where the road leads splits off in many directions.  Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?"  The Cheshire Cat answered, "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."  Alice replied sheepishly, "I don't much care where."  "Then it doesn't matter which way you go!"

As one writer said, " Most people hope that the winds of fate will blow them into some rich and mysterious port of call.”  The fact is that chance will more than likely send an ill wind blowing us into a sea of disappointment and melancholy.

Our purpose determines our direction in life, and our direction in life determines the potential for our happiness.  Let's read together what God's Word says about purpose and prosperity.

(Psa 1)  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. {2}But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. {3}He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. {4}Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. {5}Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. {6}For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish

This Psalm shows us what the entire Bible teaches:  either a person is driven by a desire to please God and receives blessing, or a person is driven by self-centered desires and receives a course.  One’s purpose in life determines the ultimate outcome of one’s life.  The Psalm shows how this works in four ways.

1.  A Purpose-driven life determines the PATH you follow ( v 1)

(Psa 1:1)   Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

The Psalmist describes the "down-ward spiral" of a life
not anchored securely to the truth of God's Word.  First, a person COMPROMISES his or her thinking by listening to the worldly "counsel" of unsaved people.  Second, a person becomes CONFUSED by lingering with the wrong crowd.  Finally, a person comes under CONDEMNATION by losing any sense of God's purpose for his or her life.  The end result is a life that drifts aimlessly searching for fulfillment, but never being satisfied.  

The path of the sinner is a "down-ward spiral"
into self-indulgence and ultimately eternal destruction.  However, we should not view verse one as a “progression” from a little sin to bigger and bigger sins.  Many preachers teach verse 1 this way: a person moves from a little sin to a larger sin: walking along, then stopping to stand, and finally sitting down to chat with sinners.  This interpretation follows the three verbs “walking, standing, and sitting” that appear in the text.  That is probably not the intent of the Hebraic parallelism of this verse, however. There is a technical literary device called a "chiasmus" that ties verse one with verse 4. A chiasmus is a literary form of comparison by contrast.  It is a literary inversion.  You will notice that no progression is mentioned in verse 4 as in verse 1 indicating that a progression is not intended.  The intent is to show that where one ends up is directly related to where one starts.  Our choices have natural consequences.  It is an example of theological “cause and effect.”

Seeing verse 1 as a progression could suggest that a little sin is not too bad as long as you don’t go further. That is not the case. Consider the first step off a cliff. Any other steps you take really have no affect at all on where you will end up. The same with sin.

Someone has wisely said, "When one chooses the beginning of a road, he choose also the middle and the end." I think that is what the Psalmist in this psalm wants us to see. Once we begin to stroll down the lane of sin, sitting on the porch swing with ungodliness will be the inevitable result.

A blessed person, that is eternally happy person, follows a different path---hears the beat of a different drummer.  The Bible admonishes us to:

(2 Cor 6:17)   "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Verse 1 is and admonishment to be careful what path we follow in life.  We are to have nothing at all to do with worldly ideas or worldly people.  We must practice what the Bible says about our path in life: 

²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly” (Ps. 37:23, NLT)

I recall the story of three preachers spending a lazy day fishing on the lake.  They began early and about mid-morning they ran out of bait.  The Presbyterian minister said, "No problem.  I'll go to shore and get more bait."  From the middle of the lake the Presbyterian minister stepped over the side of the boat and walked to shore.

He returned the same way a few minutes with more bait.  The Baptist preacher was stunned by the Presbyterian's ability to walk on the water.  As the morning grew on, the Methodist preacher realized they needed more cold drink.  He said, "No problem.  I'll be right back."  The Methodist minister hopped over the side of the boat and jaunted to shore, returning in a few minutes with a cooler full of cold drinks.  The Baptist was again stunned by the Methodist's power to walk on water.  

Soon it was lunch time, but the fish were really biting.  The Presbyterian and Methodist ministers suggested that the Baptist preacher go for lunch.  "No problem," the Baptist said, "I'll be right back."  Not to be outdone by his collegues, the Baptist stepped over the side of the boat and promptly sank to the bottom of the lake.  The Presbyterian and Methodist fished their brother Baptist out of the water.  The Baptist preacher was soaked and his faith critically dampened.  He had failed to walk on the water as the Presbyterian and Methodist ministers had.  Seeing their dampened and discouraged collegue the Presbyterian turned to the Methodist and said, "I guess we should have told him where the stones are!"

That's the key to success and blessing--knowing where the stones are! A love for God and devotion to his Word shows us where the stones are--that is, the path to follow.

When we are driven with a purpose to please God, we follow a path that leads to blessing and prosperity.  The Holy Spirit releases our potential to accomplish great things for God.  Without this sense of "purpose" a person drifts aimlessly becoming more and more frustrated with life until finally just giving up and giving into a life of mediocrity.

When a person walks in the counsel of God, takes a stand for godliness, and sits in the seat of praise to Jesus--God directs his or her path. Life has meaning and each day is full of wonder and excitement.

Purpose determines the path we follow, and the path we follow determines our success or failure in life. Purpose also leads to blessing in this life and the next because purpose

2.  determines the pleasures we seek (v 2)

You can spot someone who's life is driven by godliness by the things that give them pleasure.

(Psa 1:2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The word, "law," here comes from the Hebrew word, "torah," which means "instruction that comes from God." For a Christian, this means, the Bible--God's inspired instructions.

The godly person derives great pleasure from Bible reading, Bible studies, seminars on the Bible, hearing the Word, and hearing the Word of God preached.  A person can be quite religious and never open his Bible, but a person CANNOT have a meaningful relationship with God, and not love to read, hear, study, memorize or meditate on the Word of God.

To discover whether you "delight in the law of the Lord"is a relatively simple matter easily settled by a few questions:

1.  Did you read your Bible every day last month?  2.  Did you memorize Scripture on a regular basis?  3.  Do you avoid any activity that will take you away from hearing the Word preached in church each Sunday?  4.  Do you spend more time studying the Word of God than you do reading the newspaper or watching the nightly news on T.V.?  Do you read along in your Bible as the pastor preaches making notes about what you are hearing?  If you were really honest, would you say that Bible reading, study and application is the "highest priority" in your life?  Does listening to and applying the Word of God give you more pleasure than anything else in life?  THOSE ARE TOUGH QUESTIONS, ARE THEY NOT?

Did you answer an enthusiastic (and honest) "yes!" to each question.  If you are like most people--you answered with quite a few "no's,” or at least a few “well, buts . . . .”

According to a recent survey 92% of American households have at least one Bible.  However, only 47% read the Bible at some time other than church.  That means that about half of our church members probably did not pick up the Bible at any time other than church---and many members don't even bring a Bible to church.  My prayer is that our church at least exceeds the American average.

Godliness requires we spend time in God's Book.  When we

get as much pleasure out of Bible study groups as we do hunting, fishing, bingo, basketball, or a thousand other activities, we find that a whole new world of pleasures begin to open up to us!  Our tastebuds for life explode and even small pleasures tastes sweeter.  

When the purpose driving our lives is "devotion to God's Word,"our hidden potential is released and our prosperity is assured.

(Josh 1:8)  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

It is sad that so many Christians have so little appreciation for just how powerful the Word of God is.  Most of you have probably heard the name, Voltaire.  This was the pen name of a philosopher who died in 1778.  He brutally attacked Christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular.  He once called Jesus Christ, “a wretch.”  He hated religion.  The story is told that he once declared, “within 100 years “the Bible would be a forgotten book.”  This was typical of this atheist’s attacks on Christianity.  History records a great irony concerning Voltaire’s attacks on the uselessness and triviality of the Bible.  If you travel down the road of history about 100 years you will discover that a house Voltaire owned in Geneva, Switzerland is now owned by the Geneva Bible Society and is used to print and distribute the Word of God. 

God’s Word is powerful and when our greatest pleasure is to know and follow the teachings of God’s Book, we have great success in this life and receive great blessing in the next.

God's word unlocks our potential for greatness.  A Godly purpose driving our lives not only directs the path we follow and determines the pleasures we seek.  Our purpose to love and obey God also

3.  determines the pain we can avoid (v 6).

Slide down to verse 6 to discover the outcome of a life driven by the purpose of godliness:

(Psa 1:6)   For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish .

No doubt you have heard the statement,"All roads lead to heaven."

According to the Bible there are only two roads leading into eternity--and they take decidedly different paths and end in two decidedly different places.  The Bible says,

(Mat 7:13-14)   "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14}But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

I believe that the greatest gift, apart from salvation, that

God has given mankind, is the "freedom of choice."   A man or woman is free to choose any path or purpose in life they wish to follow.  All persons have an equal right to choose---but, not all choices bring equal pleasure.  Indeed, wrong choices bring much pain--and no pleasure at all!

Many of you will not remember Karla Faye Tucker.She made history in 1998 by being only the second woman executed since the Civil War.  She was a pleasant, thirty year old young lady with a very troubled past marked by pain and despair.  Her personal pain, through her horrible actions, brought unbelievable pain to others.  

Her childhood was horrible.  Like many infamous people, she has her own Wikipedia page.  It tells the story of her painful life, and peaceful but sad end.  Karla was born and raised in Houston, Texas, the youngest of three sisters. Her father Larry was a longshoreman. The marriage of her parents was very troubled.  Tucker started smoking cigarettes with her sisters when she was eight years old, but this crime would hardly compare with the crimes that would put her on death row.  When she was 10, her parents divorced, and during the divorce proceedings, she learned that she had been the result of an extramarital affair. By age 12, she had turned to drugs and sex. When she was 14, she dropped out of school and followed her mother Carolyn, a rock groupie, into prostitution and began traveling with the Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, and the Eagles. At age 16, she was married briefly to a mechanic . Her punishment was severe because her crime was savage.  When she was about 23, she got high and brutally killed two people in a drug-crazed frenzy, along with a friend who wanted to steal some motorcycle parts.  But, she doesn't use drugs as an excuse.  She admits openly, "it was my choice to take drugs."  Choosing the path of sin always results in great pain.  She did find peace in prison after picking up a Bible and becoming a Christian; but the pain she experienced in life and the pain of knowing how much pain she caused others, went with her to her grave . . . though not beyond.

All that pain could have been avoided had Karla’s purpose in life been to follow God instead of surrender to sinful pleasures--if her purpose in life had been to follow the Lord rather than follow her lusts.  I share her story because it is the story of so many people.  Not all people who follow a worldly purpose will end up savagely murdering people, but make note of this:  A GODLY PURPOSE IN LIFE DETERMINES THE PAIN WE CAN AVOID IN LIFE.  We cannot, and will not, avoid all pain in life but we should seek to avoid all the pain we can.  A godly purpose determines the pain we can avoid.

Note again what verse 6 tells us,
"The way of the wicked will perish!"

The word "perish" in the original Hebrew language (the language most of the Old Testament was written in) paints the picture of a "person wandering aimlessly (without any purpose) through a parched, barren desert full of misery and destruction."

Oh, the pain of mis-directed lives!

I can't tell you how many how many broken-hearted parents I've counselled with because of a wayward son or daughter.  I don't think there is a greater pain than that felt by a parents as they watch their children suffer the pain of bad choices.

We live in a nation adrift in a sea of despair.  Just this week, a protest march in Dallas, Tx, over two black men who were shot by cops ended with five cops being killed by a sniper while they were protecting the protesters.  Pain added to pain because our nation has lost her godly purpose.

We have lost the "rudder of God's purpose" for our destiny.  We have become " moral zombies" purposelessly wandering the by-ways of life and pain has become our legacy.

We all know how terrible inflation has been.

Years ago, bread was a nickel and a gallon of gas was a quarter.  Inflation has lowered the wages of the working man.  But there's one wage that has stayed constant while inflation has risen--that's the wages of sin.  The wages of sin have not changed--the wages of sin is still death.  

One way a godly purpose unlocks our human potential is by allowing us to avoid the pain of bad choices.  With all the pain in the world we cannot avoid, isn't it wise to avoid all the pain you can!

When godliness is the purpose driving our lives it determines the path we follow, it determines the pleasures we seek, it determines the pain we avoid, and most importantly, living a life driven by a desire to love God and obey His word

4.  determines the PROSPERITY we will find (v 3)

(Psa 1:3)   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Here we have the "crown jewel" of a purpose-driven life focused upon pleasing God!

"whatever [we] do prospers!"

I am always a little nervous anytime my preaching crosses touches on one of the many times the Biblediscusses prosperity.  I NEVER want to be associated with those false preachers known as “Prosperity Preachers.”  I believe God will prosper righteous people, but it isn’t the kind of prosperity that “Health and Wealth Preachers” like Kenneth Copeland and Joel Olsteen preach.

What is wrong with the "Prosperity Gospel?" Fair question. Answer: everything. It starts from the wrong place, travels down the wrong road, and arrives at the wrong destination. Psalm 1 corrects any notion that prosperity is the reward one deserves for "good living," or even righteous living. In Psalm 1 the Bible does promise prosperity for righteous living--but not as a reward, but as a natural consequence of obedience.

Seeking obedience to God's Word is the foundation for prosperity in life according to the Psalmist. The is a natural (should I say, supernatural) cause and effect presented in this Psalm. The Prosperity Gospel starts in the wrong place because it seeks "pleasure in things" instead of "pleasure in God." You see, when God is all you seek, then He is all you want, and the lack of want is the very definition of satisfaction, and the reason so many seek more and more stuff. The Bible never directs us to seek unlimited riches or unlimited pleasures as ends to themselves. The Bible (see Ps. 1:4) teaches us to seek God and accept whatever prosperity God chooses to send into our lives.  Seeking prosperity for prosperity's sake is like climbing a tall ladder only to discover it is leaning against the wrong wall.  So, the problem with the Prosperity Gospel is that it starts in the wrong place, travels in the wrong path, and ultimately ends up at the wrong place.

Prosperity here and throughout the Bible is not a matter of gaining a bunch of things,

but a matter of gaining the most important thing—godliness.  Godliness DOES lead to greatness in this life, and eternity.  It is a greatness measured by God’s standards, not the worlds.  The Psalmist here outlines the “prosperity that is the natural result” of “delighting in the Word of God” (v. 4).  Godliness unleashes our potential for greatness and prosperity in several ways.  it gives us a

1.  greater prominence (v3a):  “like a tree,” standing tall above the crowd of life!
2.  greater permanence (v3b):  "planted," that is firmly established in the rich soil of God's love!
3.  a greater position (v3c):  "by the refreshing streams of living water,” refreshed daily by God’s care.
4.  a greater productivity (v3d):  "yielding fruit,”  successful and effective in all we do.
5:  and finally, godliness blesses us with greater "potency"(v3e): “leaf does not wither.” Unlike persons wilted by a life of sin, the godly person grows stronger as the years go by, with God’s love and power shining brighter and brighter in, through, and upon our lives.

In the final analysis, the Psalmist sums up the natural result of a person whose purpose is to love and obey the Lord as being life that

Verse 3:  "WHATEVER [HE] DOES PROSPERS!"

In the same manner the Psalmist concludes that a person living for an ungodly purpose is  Verse 4:  “Like chaff that the wind blows away.”

When harvesting wheat, the people of the Middle East (as in other areas) would toss the grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter, useless husks (chaff) and let the heavier wheat kernel fall to the threshing floor to be gathered up.  Here’ a modern paraphrase of verse 4:  

“People who pursue an ungodly purpose in life are lightweights and the efforts of their lives will amount to absolutely nothing.”

Today . . .you have a choice:  you can unlock your God-given potential and sore with the eagles or you can live an aimless, purposeless, mediocre life pecking out scraps in the barnyard like a chicken.  

What is the purpose that drives your life:

"Eternally happy is the person who's delight is the law of the Lord!"
is how verse one of Psalm 1 opens up God’s Hymnbook.  The most important decision you will every make is not who will you marry or live with; it is not what job will you have, or what will you live on; but the most important question you will ever answer is:  “Who will I live for?

An add agency literally made millions (and continues to make millions) by developing the simple slogan:  “Got Milk?”  How you answer that question won’t make a great deal of difference in your life, and no difference whatsoever in the next life.  But, if you change that slogan just a bit to, “God Purpose?” then how you answer that question will change everything—the path you follow, the pleasures you seek, the pain you avoid, and ultimately, the prosperity you find—in this life and for all eternity.

So, I ask you, “Got Purpose?”