What are you living for?

Dedicated people will do nearly anything to get what they want. They have a clear and unswerving focus which they pursue with determination. Liesel Jones was interviewed recently about her preparations for the Olympics. At twenty two years of age she is attending her third Olympics. It hasn’t happened without a huge commitment and a gruelling training schedule. Athletes from other countries around the world have made similar sacrifices to have the opportunity to compete.

In contrast, Australia has been described as “the land of the long weekend”. We are known as a country that “lives for” its moments of pleasure. The rest of the week is seen as an “interruption”. For many people work is seen as just a way to pay the bills. In a similar way, schoolwork is seen as just being about getting an education so you can earn money. This kind of approach can mean that we spend a large part of our lives looking forward to something but not enjoying the present moment. After the weekend many people suffer from “Mondayitis”. It’s hard to get out of bed and go back to school or work. But have you considered that one seventh of your life is lived on Mondays? So, if you suffer from “Mondayitis” you could be wasting a seventh of your life!

The Bible teaches that there is more to life than looking forward to “weekends”. Every day can be filled with meaning and purpose when God is at the centre of how we live. The apostle Paul found meaning and purpose in life even in the midst of suffering and difficulty. His greatest concern was that Christ would be honoured in his life and his death. He knew that his future was uncertain. He was not afraid of dying for his faith. He knew that heaven would be a far better place. But his concern was not for his own comfort. He wanted to live in a way that pleased and honoured God. He valued his relationships with his friends and knew he could encourage their faith by staying alive.

So he was able to write to his friends in Philippi,

“Alive I’m Christ’s messenger, dead I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.” (Philippians 1:21 The Message)

Are you excited about life? Do you have a passion that motivates you? Are you drifting along wondering where your life is going? Do you have a sense of direction?