In this message series, we’ve talked about how work can actually rob us of the life that God has for us, if we let it overload us. We defined margin as the space between our load and our limit. We need margin in our time, in our checkbook and in every other area. If we don’t have margin, we will reap the negative effects of a hectic hurried lifestyle. We’ve talked about the benefits of margin and looked at some ways to slow down, to build margin and to lighten your load.
Today I want us to look at the purpose of margin. Why have margin in your life? The purpose of margin is not to live a life of selfishness, but to live a life of significance. You see margin is not just about cutting things out of your life so you can take it easy. Margin is about making time for what matters most, for living a life of significance. You were made for more than rest. God did not just put you on this earth to retire, you were put here for a purpose.
God has a plan and purpose for your life. While you need rest, the purpose of margin is to cut out the trivial things in your life, the things that don’t really matter, the things that most people waste their lives on. The purpose of margin is so you can have more time, more energy and more money for the things that matter most in life.
The key to an effective life, the key to a life of significance is focus, setting wise goals. You need to focus your life like a laser. The stronger the focus, the more concentrated the focus, the more power the laser has. So when you focus your life on the few goals that really matter most, your life will be effective.
The problem is that most of us have unfocused lives. We’re trying to do a hundred things at the same time, thinking they are all of equal value and they’re not. So an unfocused life causes you to get overloaded. On the other hand, the more you focus your life the more you center in on God’s goals for your life.
The Bible says in Msg Eph. 1:17-18 I ask God to make your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do. Today we’re going to look at setting wise goals. God’s Word says that the alternative to live an unfocused life is foolish in NCV Eph. 5:17 So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do. I want to live wisely, I want to make the most out of the life that God has given me and I know that you want that for yourselves as well. How do you begin to set wise goals for your life?
To hear more about this topic, listen to my October 16, 2005 message entitled Setting Wise Goals