The Search for Significance
“You Don’t Have to Go Very Far”
April 5, 2002
Intro: Show “Simon Birch” movie clip where Simon tells the priest in his office that God has a plan for him.
According to George Barna 70 million people in America today are searching for some meaning to their lives. (Found at sermoncentral.com)
I am amazed at how some will go to extreme lengths to find that meaning. Some feel that they find significance in having the perfect body. According to the American Society of Plastic surgeons almost $7,500,000,000 were spent on physician/surgeon fees in the year 2,000 on plastic surgery’s. This doesn’t even include anesthesia, operating room facilities and other related expenses. I’m talking about face-lifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, breast augmentations, etc.
Others would say that significance is found in your lucky numbers. In Texas almost 3 billion dollars were spent on lottery tickets in the year 2,000 alone (lotteryinsider.com). One of these days, everyone hopes they’ll win it big and everything will be o.k.
How far are you willing to go to search to for significance? Fortunately you do not have to go very far. Let’s read Ephesians 2:8-10. These are some powerful verses. I truly believe that to embrace the truth found in these verses can change your life. God tells us in verse 10 a (A). that we are created significantly. Look at what it says: We are his workmanship. We are his creation, the works of his hands. We are seen as God’s masterpiece. What do you do with a masterpiece? You hang it up for others to see.
ILLUSTRATION: When you go to grandma’s what is usually up on the walls? Pictures of the grandkids. I love going to my grandparents because it seems like it is a shrine for me in my honor! It is truly an ego booster for me when I visit them because they take great pride in me, simply because I am their grandson. God takes pride in us. We belong to him. Look at what Matthew 6:26 says: 26 "Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?" You are more valuable than birds.
He values you and he treasures you! He doesn’t care if you are rich and famous. He doesn’t care if you get old and wrinkled. He doesn’t care if you have the most beautiful body in the world (although he does command us to take care of it). So many of us listen to the voice of the world and not the voice of God. If you listen to what the culture says you are going to become schizophrenic!
ILLUSTRATION: I heard about a guy who took his date to the prom. They arrived at their destination. He was so peculiar about how he looked in front of his date because she was one of the prettiest girls in school. He wanted to really impress her. As soon as they walked in to the meeting area he excused himself and went into the restroom. For most of the night he stood in front of the bathroom mirror making sure his tie was just right and that his hair was just in the right place. A couple of hours later when he came out of the bathroom his date had found someone else to dance with and prom was just about over. So many of us are just like this young man. We are so focused on pleasing others with our appearance, making sure we live up to someone else’s standards that we miss out on what is important in life. All the while God accepts us as his treasure.
Not only are we created significant but we are (B) created to do significant things. Look at Ephesians 2:10 b: “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Notice it says we were created to do good work(s) (plural). He has many significant things planned for us to do. I don’t want to just make one contribution to the world I want to make many—many that will matter for eternity. The things he wants us to accomplish are significant. They are eternal.
ILLUSTRATION: You will remember that not long after 9-11 there was a significant jump in the number of men and women who wanted to join the armed forces and who attribute what happened in NY, D.C. and Pennsylvania as their reason. The motivation for us is that God has many things in store for us. It’s what he has rescued us for. Because we have been saved (Eph. 2:8-9) we are saved for good works. I don’t want to do these things to make me right with God but because I am right for God that I want to find out and do what Jesus has changed me to do.
Quote: The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
-- William James
Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO
That’s what it awesome about getting in on what God has in store. What we do can ultimately outlast us.
Are we ready to find what God wants us to do and do them? That’s one of the purposes of this next sermon series—to explore some of these things God wanted us to do and begin doing them.
ILLUSTRATION: It’s as if you were preparing a great meal for your neighbors. You set out the dinner table. You’ve placed all the great food on the table. The tea is poured the steak is cooked to perfection. One thing is missing: the guests. God has prepared some awesome things for us. He’s waiting for you to show up and take part. Don’t miss out!
You know there are two basic needs that we all deal with:
· Do I really matter?
· Do I really have something to contribute?
I believe God answers these basic questions over and over in life. You are wanted and treasured and you have a job to do in this life.
But keep in mind, there will always be people that will try to tell you otherwise. Listen to these actual quotes:
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." --PopularMechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." --Thomas Watson,chairman of IBM, 1943
"But what ... is it good for?" --Engineer at the Advanced Computing SystemsDivision of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." --KenOlson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977"
This ’telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as ameans of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"Who the heck wants to hear actors talk?" --H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers,1927.
"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports sayAmerica likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." --Response to Debbi Fields’ idea of starting Mrs. Fields’ Cookies.
"We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." --DeccaRecording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." --Lord Kelvin, president,Royal Society, 1895.
"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’recrazy." --Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project todrill for oil in 1859.
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." --MarechalFerdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented." --Charles H. Duell,Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.
"640K ought to be enough for anybody." -- Bill Gates, 1981
Contributed by sermoncentral.com
Maybe you’ve heard the critics and seemingly experts talk about your life. Maybe they’ve convinced you that you are out for the count. God wants to set that straight. You are significant and he has significant things for you to do. Things you may never thought he would use you to do. I hope you will come back the next few weeks as we continue looking at the search for significance.
