Living with Purpose and Priority (Building Altars Part II)

Training4Manhood

What do you want said about you at your funeral…?

Kind of a pointless question - people are going to say nice things about you - it’s your funeral, celebration of life…

Go back to Genesis 26:25 - build altars, pitch tents, dig wells…

So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well. Genesis 26:25

Build altars

• Comparison with pitching tents…
  • Pitching tents is important too…just not as important…what will people remember you by - those things that are your top priority
  • 1 Timothy 4:8 - training for godliness - compared to your physical training - so you need to do things in the physical world with excellence, dedication -”bodily training is of some value” - but training in righteousness has value for this life AND the next… and then do things in the spiritual world BETTER!

Building altars, pitching tents…

• Pitching tents is also important - need to have physical, material things in proper perspective as well…
• Your home, work, things - don’t allow them to become idols
• Examples - kids sports, keep in perspective - coach who wouldn’t take trophies for 2nd place - but I was there for 2nd grade football…

IF - and only if you have these two things in their proper perspective, can you see the importance of digging wells…

• Being a blessing to others…
• God’s economy - what if what you sacrifice here is stored up for you in heaven?
  • Sacrifice and buy a cheaper car - so that you can use that money to bless others - what if that becomes a blessing to you for eternity?
• Focus isn’t on your prosperity - temporary wealth and comfort - but your posterity - your legacy - children, both physical and spiritual…
  • Children - physical and spiritual - who are you investing in?

IF you’re build tents and pitching altars, you won’t see the needs around you, won’t want to make the sacrifice to be a blessing to others - you’ll give from your excess…and that includes your time, talents and treasure…

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster

Inward: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study

Outward: Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service

Corporate: Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([e-mail]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.