I am thankful that if we will honestly and diligently seek Lord and His purposes, that He will place within us the vision and direction for our lives that He has uniquely equipped each one of us to accomplish. There are things that we all must do but there are also those things that God desires for us as individuals to accomplish.
It is my firm belief that when God places a vision or direction into the heart of a person a family or a church, that he accompanies that vision with the necessary resources to accomplish it. The problem with many is that although there may be a vision, the resources are not invested as God intends and are therefore wasted on things that will have little if any eternal value.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
How we use our God given resources, our treasure, is a good indication of where our heart truly is. How do we invest the resources of time, opportunity, ability and finances in a way that supports a vision received from God and keeps our heart in His work?
I. Recognize the purpose
Everything that we do should be for the Glory of God:
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
II. Understand the priorities
1. God’s Glory
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
2. Accomplishing God’s purpose in your life
a. Those things given for everyone to do
b. Those things specific to you and your particular gifting
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
3. Being a blessing to others
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
*As he accomplished His purpose given to Him by God, the promise was that he would be a blessing.
4. Personal enjoyment
1Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
This is a list of priorities, but if we are doing these things the way that we should, we will accomplish all of them and they will work together for His Glory.
III. Avoid the pitfalls
Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
1. Getting the priorities out of order
2. Self-centerdness (Drives misplaced prioraties)
3. Good intentions-Pull from others
Will you live to invest the resources that God has given in the vision that He has provided? Where is your heart?