8-7-2015

 Good Morning All!!

           Ecclesiastes 12:13; “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

    School will be starting soon and as the students enter into new grades or new schools people often ask them, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Students usually fall quickly into two different camps.  You have the students who know exactly what they want to do.  They know where they plan on attending college and are even taking some dual credit college courses so they are ready.  The other camp does not have a clue.  They might know a few things they don’t want but they really don’t know a direction to travel.  They look at one type of job but that only lasts a few days or weeks.  They just sort of meander; looking, but not really sure of anything.

    The interesting thing is how many times the one who is so sure changes his mind.  Somewhere between 75-80% of college students change their major.  The average college student changes majors three times and this is college.  That doesn’t count people who didn’t go to college or those who make later in life career changes.  Change occurs for lot of reasons.  Sometimes it occurs because we change our dreams and sometimes it is because we become disillusioned with what we are doing.  Some wonder if what they are doing has value; some wonder if the job they are doing or the career they are pursuing is worth it.

   In many ways, this question is very old one.  Even Solomon asked it.  What value is there in what I am doing?  Is there any meaning to what I am doing?  Is this all there is to life?  Solomon struggled until he realized what God had been telling him all along.  Unless your life is dedicated to serving God it will be hollow and meaningless.  Unless you place God at the head of your life you will chase empty dreams.  When you follow this guide, you will find more contentment in your life.

    This doesn’t mean everyone should be a minister, deaconess, or a nun.  It means that our contentment can be best found when our desire is to serve God in the occupation that we choose, even if we change occupations we can serve God in what we do. We can do this by doing our job because of what we can do for others.  We can be teachers because we can impact a child’s life.  We can be in the medical field because we want to heal.  We can make products that make lives easier or better.  We can seek to be companions and friends to those whom we work with.  We can serve God by praising him, by caring for his creation and by caring for each other.  This is God’s plan and it is where we will find our greatest contentment.

Gracious Father, lead me to do your will.  Lead me in the paths of service to you.  Guide me in my journey that my actions may please you.  Show me the way that will bring glory to your Name and give comfort and hope to my neighbor.  Lead me in the paths of righteousness that I may be a light for you.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret