Introduction

• Opportunity knocks at the door of our lives.
• Within the boundaries of ethical choices, what key factors guide our lifestyle?
• There are at least four basic principles which undergird lifestyle choices:

freedom & responsibility
opportunity & contentment
 
• There are at least six additional factors which build upon these:

work & rest
complexity & simplicity
challenge & comfort
 
• Let us begin with the four undergirding principles.

• From Genesis we see that responsibility is intimately tied with freedom of choice.
• Figure: "The Roots of Meaning."
• With freedom of choice comes responsibility.
• Consider the relationships, activities & possessions in our lives.
• We choose the quantity & level of involvement in each these areas.
• With each relationship, activity & possession we choose, comes responsibility.
• An example is the responsibility associated with each possession we choose.
• With possessions, the many facets of responsibility can become burdensome:

• Of course, each freedom we choose may open up other freedoms.
• While owning a car has its responsibilities, it opens up the ability to go places.
• Generally, with growth in responsibility comes more opportunities (Mt 25:14-30):

For to everyone who has, more shall be given" (vs 29)
 
• Therefore, we can also say that with responsibility comes freedom.
• With each opportunity there are both freedoms & responsibilities.

• As opportunity knocks at the door, there is a rival call for contentment.
• In prayer, our requests are to be balanced with thanksgiving and surrender.
• Figure: “Five Focuses of Prayer.”
• We may have opportunity to change lifestyle but contentment is most basic.
• Each section below shows that contentment in the Lord is most important.

• God insists that at least one day a week be set aside for rest (Ex 20:8-11).
• Figure: "Insight into the Ten Commandments."
• We must balance the financial equation of life to produce a day of rest.
• Figure: "Income - Spending = Savings + Debt (Just Say No)."
• We must gage our spending on our level of income to save time for rest.
• We are to:

work, but not overwork
spend, but not overspend
balance work with rest

• We are to take a day of rest & rest every day.
• Figure: "Work Hard, Play Hard, Rest Hard."
• Contentment, however, is more important than optimizing work & rest.
• 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 emphasizes contentment over optimal work conditions.

• Our choices in aggregate produce lifestyles ranging from simple to complex.
• God speaks to an aspect of this, having abundance & suffering need.
• Our primary goal is to be content in either abundance or need (Phil 4:11-13).
• Beyond that, we can guide our lifestyle toward the simple or complex.
• As stated above, with growth in responsibility comes more opportunities.
• In fact, one can become overwhelmed with opportunities.
• This is true even in impoverished settings.
• Aside from possessions, life can be complex in relationships & activities alone.
• The more we choose, the more complex our lifestyle becomes.
• Conversely, choosing a simple lifestyle can free us up.
• Additional time can be used for leisure or devoted to special causes.
• Paul tells how being single frees up time for the Lord's work (1 Cor 7:32-35).
• Of course, the special activities we take on can become complex themselves.
• Paul states how his ministry was indeed burdensome (2 Cor 11:23-28).
• Thoreau shows how a simplistic lifestyle can allow us to discover reality.
• Figure: "Thoreau on Simplistic Lifestyle, Select Quotes from Walden."
• In their spare time, some personalities are drawn more to leisure & others work.
• Figure: "The Circle of Personality Type."
• The time freed up from simplistic living may be spent in leisure or more work.
• While contentment is basic, we can choose simplicity & complexity in lifestyle.

• Another facet of the opportunity before us is our ongoing level of development.
• There are at least two aspects of development involved here.
• There is our awareness of weaknesses & choice to develop these areas.
• There is also the level of challenges we take on & the resulting impact.
• Figure: "Limits & Potential."
• While we are limited, we typically live well beneath our limitations.
• Our greatest limitation in development is often ourselves.
• We may be comfortable where we are at or desire more challenges to grow.
• God often brings challenges in our lives for growth (Job 23:10, Jam 1:2-4).
• Figure: "Pain & Gain Through Suffering."
• Of course there is also a tie between development & work.
• The choice to develop an aspect of our lives typically involves effort on our part.
• Even what we take on for development in our leisure can become like work.
• So development can impact the balance of work & rest in our lives.
• Furthermore, the goal of personal development can be overdone also.
• Development must always be tempered contentment in the Lord (Ps 131).
• While opportunity may be calling, contentment is basic.
• Figure: "Passion & Abandon."