Disclaimer: These blogs are not intended to be taken as complete dissertations upon the given subjects. They are designed to be brief and digestible (metaphorically speaking...please do not lick your computer screen). The writer is, however, willing to engage in further conversation upon request.
What is the meaning of life? Deep, complex, universal. Regardless of circumstances, everyone considers this question at some point or another. Consequently, there have been a vast array of proposed answers. Things like:
1. To obtain as much knowledge as possible
2. To demonstrate virtue
3. To become one with nature and/or society
4. To suffer for the greater good
5. To live life to the fullest (though the definition of fullest is in constant debate)
6. To overcome emotion
7. To embrace emotion
8. To gain wealth, glory, or recognition
9. To make the world a better place
10. To have children
11. To serve your fellow man
12. To experience the greatest happiness
13. Nothing
14. 42
The Bible, however, offers a far different view. Why does that matter? Well...if life has meaning, then it has to be absolute. Any relative, personal meanings we attribute to life are subject to our desires. Our desires are varied and fickle. Therefore, those meanings are ever changing fabrications to meet a wide variety of ever changing needs. Since those desires have no standardizing source, what gives them value? Nothing. This train of thought leads to the conclusion that life is whatever we make it to be...which is a nice way of saying life has no real (objective) meaning.
2. To demonstrate virtue
3. To become one with nature and/or society
4. To suffer for the greater good
5. To live life to the fullest (though the definition of fullest is in constant debate)
6. To overcome emotion
7. To embrace emotion
8. To gain wealth, glory, or recognition
9. To make the world a better place
10. To have children
11. To serve your fellow man
12. To experience the greatest happiness
13. Nothing
14. 42
The Bible, however, offers a far different view. Why does that matter? Well...if life has meaning, then it has to be absolute. Any relative, personal meanings we attribute to life are subject to our desires. Our desires are varied and fickle. Therefore, those meanings are ever changing fabrications to meet a wide variety of ever changing needs. Since those desires have no standardizing source, what gives them value? Nothing. This train of thought leads to the conclusion that life is whatever we make it to be...which is a nice way of saying life has no real (objective) meaning.
However, few of us would be willing to swallow that there is no real purpose to this existence. If there is purpose, then, from where does it come? If there is an absolute purpose to life, the source of this design, by necessity, must also be absolute. To give conscious meaning, this something must also be capable of absolute intelligent thought. We could continue, but ultimately, absolute meaning points to an absolute being. By definition, that being is God. Through further reasoning, we can arrive at the fact that this God, one and only, has revealed Himself through the Bible, His Word. Therefore, it is vital to consider what He, the giver of life, has to say about our purpose here on earth.
I just want to look at a few verses and a couple points of application.
I just want to look at a few verses and a couple points of application.
Point 1: The Meaning of Life Is...Not You
Ecclesiastes is a book written by King Solomon at the end of his life. In it, he explores the meaning life has apart from God. He had experienced great wealth, love, wisdom, and personal success. He had also lived according to his desires. He concluded that all things in life were vanities. None of these were worthy of his full devotion. Riches fade; love disappoints, wisdom is fleeting and often ignored; and accomplishments come and go. Therefore, he ended his exposition with the following statement: 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV
Similarly, God inspired the Psalmist to write:...Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. - Psalms 127:1-2 ESV
Similarly, God inspired the Psalmist to write:...Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. - Psalms 127:1-2 ESV
God's design for man, the purpose of our existence, is to love and serve Him. This life is "through Him and for Him" (Colossians 3:16). Our selfish hearts, as I've mentioned before, don't like this. We want this world to be about us. We want some kind of control, some semblance of autonomy. Before you stop reading this post, think about what drives you. What is your purpose? In what or who have you place all your hope? Can it/they hold this weight? How solid is your foundation? If it is built upon anything subject to change or temperament, it will not stand.
"24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."" - Matthew 7:24-27 ESVThe difference between these two houses wasn't the circumstances they endured. Both went through storms. The difference was in their design--what they were built upon.
"17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:17-18 ESVSolid. Unchanging. Good. This is who our lives are to be built upon.
Point 2: Therefore, Recognize That You Are Not Living in Light of the Meaning of Life
We have to recognize that we all fall short here. None of us live like Jesus is our purpose 100% of the time. If we think we have somehow "arrived" at the pinnacle of Christianity--a place beyond the need of further growth, we are wrong. We will never love God enough, or know Him to the fullest extent. Paul--who told the Philippians that he, too, had not attained perfection (Philippians 3:8-12)-- exclaimed in his letter to the Romans,"33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 ESV
Because we fall short and will forever be in great need of Him, we need to ask God for conviction. Though we don't like this word, unless we are redirected, we'll always be going astray. This is not punishment. It's grace.
Point 3: And Seek God
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ... 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33 ESV
I love the passages above and ponder them all the time. Anything that we devote ourselves to apart from God opens our hearts up to destruction. Teaching at a high school and working with teens, I see this illustrated all the time. At the end of each school year, I have my students write a world-view essay. They are tasked with breaking down their core-values. Frequently, friends and family top their lists. Unfortunately, I watch heart-break after heart-break when a friendship crumbles over something trivial, or a family is destroyed by divorce, death, or disappointment. When these things are their world, they truly feel like their lives no longer have meaning. Adults do the exact same thing. Misplaced devotion leads to destruction. Seeking God, loving and living His Word, leads to life.
Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.
Upchurch
"23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" - Psalms 139:23-24 ESV
We have to recognize that we all fall short here. None of us live like Jesus is our purpose 100% of the time. If we think we have somehow "arrived" at the pinnacle of Christianity--a place beyond the need of further growth, we are wrong. We will never love God enough, or know Him to the fullest extent. Paul--who told the Philippians that he, too, had not attained perfection (Philippians 3:8-12)-- exclaimed in his letter to the Romans,"33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 ESV
Because we fall short and will forever be in great need of Him, we need to ask God for conviction. Though we don't like this word, unless we are redirected, we'll always be going astray. This is not punishment. It's grace.
Point 3: And Seek God
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ... 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33 ESV
I love the passages above and ponder them all the time. Anything that we devote ourselves to apart from God opens our hearts up to destruction. Teaching at a high school and working with teens, I see this illustrated all the time. At the end of each school year, I have my students write a world-view essay. They are tasked with breaking down their core-values. Frequently, friends and family top their lists. Unfortunately, I watch heart-break after heart-break when a friendship crumbles over something trivial, or a family is destroyed by divorce, death, or disappointment. When these things are their world, they truly feel like their lives no longer have meaning. Adults do the exact same thing. Misplaced devotion leads to destruction. Seeking God, loving and living His Word, leads to life.
Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.
Upchurch
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