ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE BACKWARDS?

Intro:

	1.	It is easy for us to get things in this life mixed up. We easily might put our emphasis in life in the wrong place.

	2.	Consider the rich young ruler, the rich fool, Mary and Martha.

I.	Are You Learning To Live or Living To Learn?

	A.	We should learn to live the life of a Christian.

		1.	We should live in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)

		2.	Should live soberly, righteously, and godly. (Tit. 2:11-12)

		3.	Should live honorably. (Heb. 13:18)

		4.	Should desire to live a quiet and peaceable life. (1 Tim. 2:2; Rom. 12:18	)

		5.	Should live no longer in the flesh, but for God. (1 Pet. 4:2)

		6.	No longer in sin, but in newness of life. (Rom. 6:1-11)

	B.	We should learn to live eternally. (Matt. 19:16)

		1.	Must believe in Christ. (John 3:14-16,36)

		2.	Must do good. (Rom. 2:7)

		3.	Must serve God. (Rom. 6:22-23)

		4.	Must do God's will. (1 John 2:17)

	C.	If, however, our purpose in living is just to accumulate human wisdom, we are going to be disappointed.

		1.	Men seem to find comfort in their own wisdom. (Prov. 3:7; Is. 5:21)

		2.	One's own wisdom can only bring trouble. (Eccl. 1:18; Is. 28:14-16)

		3.	Earthly wisdom perverts. (Is. 47:10-11)

		4.	Man in his wisdom denies God. (Rom. 1:21-23)

		5.	Paul would not rely on human wisdom. (1 Cor. 2:1-5)

		6.	Must realize that wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. (1 Cor. 3:18-20)

		7.	False knowledge leads us astray. (1 Tim. 6:20-21)

		8.	We should, instead, turn to Christ. (Col. 2:8)

II.	Are You Holding Down A Job or Is Your Job Holding You Down?

	A.	The Bible tells us what the proper employment of a Christian is.

		1.	A man must work in order to eat. (Prov. 12:11,24,27; 2 Thess. 3:10-12)

		2.	He is to engage in honest work. (Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:11)

		3.	He must provide for his family. (1 Tim. 5:8)

		4.	He must put effort into his work. (Eccl. 9:10)

	B.	However, we must always remember that Christ is more important than our jobs.

		1.	Many let the affairs of this life keep them from serving the Lord. (2 Tim. 2:4)

		2.	Some feel that they have to accumulate more and more of this worlds goods. (Luke 12:15-21)

		3.	Some are not satisfied with just making a living. (1 Tim. 6:6-10)

		4.	We must realize though that God will provide for those who follow Him. (Matt. 6:25-34)

		5.	Sometimes business must wait if we are going to follow Christ. (Luke 14:15-24; 5:11)

III.	Are You Living In The World or Is The World Living In You?

	A.	We cannot leave the world. We must live in it. (John 17:15)

		1.	We have to associate with the world to some degree. (1 Cor. 5:9-11)

		2.	But as we live in the world, we must set a proper example. (Matt. 5:13-16)

		3.	We also must expect hardships as we live in the world. (John 16:33)

	B.	However, we must not be controlled by the world.

		1.	We are not to love the world. (1 John 2:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:10)

		2.	Friendship with the world separates us from God. (James 4:4)

		3.	We must not be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:2)

		4.	We must remember that we have been chosen out of this world. (John 15:19)

	5.	We have to put the world to death. (Col. 3:1-11)

Concl:

	1.	Are you living your life backwards?

	2.	If so, straighten it out.

		a.	Learn to live, don't just live to learn.

		b.	Hold down a job and don't let your job hold you down.

		c.	As you live in the world, don't allow the world to live in you.