Monday, January 22, 2007
A Life that Matters
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.
—Psalm 31:14–15
I am sometimes a little amused when I read obituaries in the newspaper or hear what is said at some peoples’ funerals. Whoever the deceased was, he or she was the greatest person who ever lived. There was never a person more compassionate, more loving, or more caring. This is because when someone dies, we want to say the best about him or her.
But what if we told the truth at funerals? What if someone stood up and said, “Was this person not a jerk? He squandered his life. More than a few of us in this room were ripped off by him. He was selfish. He didn’t care about others. All he cared about was himself. And quite frankly, I am kind of glad he is gone, aren’t you?”
Of course we would never say that. Instead, we might even stretch the truth about how wonderful a person was.
If someone were to sum up your life, what would they say you lived for? What will they remember you for? That will be your legacy. Wouldn’t you like it to be honestly said of you, “This person loved God. He cared about the things of God. He really cared about other people. This person really lived for the Lord”?
The ultimate waste is to throw your life away, to squander it. Yet so many people do. One day, you will breathe your last breath. One day, you will make your last statement. One day, you will eat your last meal. What will you be remembered for?
Live a life that matters. Live a life that makes a difference. Live a life for Him, and you will never regret it.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2007 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions,