The Tower of Babel: How can we waste not our lives in this world?
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the good and the evil to determine their courses (2 Chron 16:9; Prov. 15:3; Jer 17:10; Psalm 139:7-12). This sermon explores what to give yourself to in life, so that you don’t waste your time, but live abundantly in Christ Jesus.
Text Genesis 11:1-10; 2 Chron 15:1-8
After the flood, the people attempted to build a Tower that could reach the throne of God. God sees it, disapproves of it, stops it, and scatters them. They wasted their efforts.
The tower project violated at least three of God’s will:
The sin of pride-They aimed to build a tower to reach God. Sounds familiar? Yes, Satan wanted the throne of God (Isaiah 14:13-15; Rev 12:7-9; 2 Thess 2:3-4).
To make a name for themselves, this is idol worship: God shares not his glory (Isa 42:8); We are to live to bring glory to God (Matt 5:16), and then God rewards us.
That humanity would not scatter over the earth: God wants humans to fill the earth (Gen 1:28; 9:7)
Towards a wasted life-We don’t know the future, but the future can be predicted based on Scripture:
Prodigal living; a life of fun, pleasure, without God will waste your life (Luke 15:11-32)
Alternative lifestyles, conforming to the patterns of this world, will waste your life (Rom. 12:1) (e.g., Feminism, New Age, LGBT, the success syndrome…)
Anti-God agenda (e.g., fighting God, the church, the Bible, Christians, truth, etc).
Towards a fruitful life
Building a godly family will give a future and a hope (Gen 18:17-19; Mal 2:14-16).
Personal devotion to God will earn you God’s blessings (E.g., Simeon and Anna, Luke 2:25-38)
Saving people to eternity: E.g., Noah ( Gen 6:13-22): building Christ’s church (Matt 28:19-20
Carrying out godly projects in society (Charity work). E.g., Asa reforms in 2 Chron 15:1-8