Sermon - God’s Instructions For Purposeful Living

Sermon – God’s Instructions for Purposeful Living

Scripture - Psalms 1:1-6 AMP, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.”

Introduction: What does it mean to live purposefully? Living a life of purpose is about prioritizing what truly matters to you according to your values and beliefs — then taking consistent action toward those priorities. Living purposefully is deeply personal; no one can dictate your soul's calling. Believers are given a higher purpose in life because they are called live a life of righteousness, peace and joy by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some people live on purpose and some just respond to what the world delivers. A “life of purpose” is not something you do or something you have automatically, it is choices that each of us make. Living a life of purpose guides all our choices and shapes the direction of our life. The text is written to believers, God’s people who are accepted and loved. Each of us have been given freewill and must choose to follow God. The Bible is clear that our ultimate purpose in life as believers is to glorify God.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1Corinthians 10:31.

We are to live our lives in a way that brings honor and glory to God. Embracing God’s instruction for purposeful living, giving honor and glory to God, believers have been given clear directions, constant motivation, and a sense of fulfillment as they live by faith. It helps believers prioritize their actions, make meaningful choices, and navigate life's challenges with strength. Besides that, it adds depth and richness to our experiences, making our life more meaningful and enjoyable. Notice that the psalmist gives us only two choices, the righteous and the wicked. Either people align themselves with the righteous ways of God or they align themselves with the wicked ways of the world. In Psalm 1, the ways of the righteous are set in contrast with the ways of the wicked revealing both benefits and burdens of the choices we make. In this wisdom psalm, we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God's direction of life. In this Psalm the writer sets forth two ways or two directions in life. One is the right way that leads to happiness, and the other is the wrong way that leads to misery.

Psalm 1 is called the preamble to the book of Psalms. That is, it serves as an introduction to the entire book. Psalm 1 is relevant to all the rest of the book of Psalms. The psalms begin with these words: “Blessed is the man.” God addresses man’s most basic question: How can I be happy (blessed) in this life? Those words indicate the desire men and the desire of God. You may be wondering, Does God really want us to be happy? Absolutely! And this happiness is not temporary, but perpetual. The word translated blessed is plural in the original Hebrew. That is, it means perpetual blessings. So how can a man be happy, truly happy? Psalm 1 is called a wisdom psalm because we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God’s direction of life.

Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ". This verse means that faith comes from hearing the Gospel preached and believing it. It emphasizes that faith is a gift from God, not something people earn through good deeds or willpower. A relationship with God begins by believing the gospel, confessing our sin and accepting his gift of forgiveness, salvation and redemption. Salvation is free, but to experience the blessed life of Psalm 1, we must choose to walk the right way.

Psalm 1:1–3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”