Text- Ecclesiastes 1: 14 - "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit".
Some people measure their lives by how much pleasure they can enjoy; how much wealth they’re able to accumulated, the enormity of power or status they’ve attained, or the accolades they’ve received in life. Truly, many of these men have ‘succeeded’ beyond their wildest dreams; they often find out that they still have an empty feeling; that there is something still missing from their life. That is the tragedy of purposeless living!
I feel the urgent need to make this crystal clear to God's people, especially in days like these when motivational speakers are increasingly being welcomed on the pulpit PRIORITIZE PURPOSEFUL LIVING ABOVE SUCCESSFUL LIVING! Successful living may offer pleasure, affluence, influence, and so on, but only purposeful living can offer utmost peace, total joy and a real sense of fulfilment. Outside your divine purpose, at least one of these three things will be absent in your life.
The man of God, Myles Munroe of blessed memory said "The greatest tragedy of life is not death,but a life without a purpose".If you keep living life without a purpose,particularly, a purpose in tandem with God's eternal counsel over your life, you will one day find out that all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
You may aspire to get to the top and get there only to discover that your passionate desire for success has robbed you of the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with friends and family or that despite your success in your career, your personal life is in a deep mess. Vanity upon vanity!
In 2014, a famous American actor and comedian worth $130 million committed suicide. What could have happened? This is just one out of many of such suicide stories. Have you ever wondered why some famous or wealthy people commit suicide? They seemingly have it all – money, houses, cars, vacations, jewelries, power, and popularity, yet they choose to end their own lives.Rather than commit suicide, some waste away by consuming drugs or alcohol. Have you ever wondered why?
The simple truth is that without a genuine purpose in life, our lives are empty, and lack true meaning; everything may seem to be in place, but they just don't make sense all the same! There is an innate longing of the human heart for something beyond the ordinary; something outside itself, and greater than itself.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 refers to God placing "eternity in man’s heart". God made humanity for His eternal purpose; He made you for His eternal purpose, and your life will remain empty and void until you place your feet on the grounds on divine purpose.
You can’t afford to stay in limbo and live life just as it comes. If you do, you will be a product of circumstances- the circumstances of today will determine your tomorrow. Most things happen by chance, nothing is sure, nothing is certain, nothing makes sense… These make life a living hell!
Without purpose, you’ll find yourself drifting through life without direction. Without purpose, you’ll waste most of your time fluttering through life instead of investing your life in something worthwhile.Without purpose,you may achieve remarkable success,accumulate tremendous wealth, enjoy a lot of pleasure, and still feel that life is passing you by.
Remember,only purposeful living can offer utmost peace,total joy and a real sense of fulfillment.
PRAYERS:
1. Lord, I choose to embrace divine purpose. Let your will be done in my life.
2. Lord, beginning from today, I ask that you begin to work out everything in my life
according to the counsel of your will.
3. Come what may, I will fulfil my God-ordained purpose. Nothing will be able to stop me.
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