Did you know that living for God’s glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish in life. One of our most fundamental human needs is finding purpose in life. Sadly, most people try to find purpose in superficial ways such as accumulating material possessions, becoming more popular in society, and finding happiness through work, relationships, and status. While all of these things are nice to have they can never fill the spiritual vacuum that only a personal relationship with Jesus can fill.
You see we are all wired with a spiritual dimension that people and things can’t satisfy. In addition, in our quest to find purpose in life, so many people, including many Christians, begin at the wrong starting point. Instead of being focused on Jesus we become focused on ourselves. Instead of asking God what should I do with my life, we ask self-centered questions revolving around ourselves – our goals and our dreams. It’s only when we take the focus off of ourselves and realize that God created us in His image and for His glory that we will be able to tap into our ultimate purpose in life.
Understanding that we are all infinitely valuable to God and no matter what our job, or station in life is, we can glorify God by being the best we can be, has a wonderful way of bring joy and deep satisfaction to our lives. It is also important to realize that we are all given different gifts from God, and our purpose is to offer them back to Him; having the faith to believe that He knows how to use them best.
I concur with J. R. R. Tolkien who once said: “If you do not believe in a personal God, the question: ‘What is the purpose of life?’ is unaskable and unanswerable.”1 But once we commit our lives to Jesus our purpose in life takes on a whole new meaning and revolves around doing everything, no matter how big or small, to the glory of God. I like what Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end (purpose) of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may.”2 Doing the will of God, in both good and hard times alike, is something that will bring God much glory.
All of us should live our lives in such a way that people see Jesus in us. We should look for opportunities to share Jesus with others, and raise men nearer to the likeness of God. When we do this we will find joy that can’t be found in any other way. My friends living our lives with a passion to glorify God in all we do is the highest purpose any human being can ever find.
Perhaps Charles Spurgeon said it best when he shared the following: “Thou hast put me in this world for something, Lord; show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.”3
1 Question Quotes – Quotes about Question | YourDictionary
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. quote: I still believe that standing up for the truth of… (azquotes.com)
3 PURPOSE OF LIFE QUOTES [PAGE – 6] | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
“in our quest to find purpose in life, so many people, including many Christians, begin at the wrong starting point.”
Where do we find the “starting point?” If we’re going to “think God’s thoughts after Him,” we should look no further than the pages of His holy word, where our quest for this starting point is conveniently at the start. Genesis 1:28 gives us marching orderers that tell us where to begin. We are to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion.” However we use our gifts and talents to glorify the Lord, they must be employed in the pursuit of this starting point standard. Therefore, if we ever want to understand God’s command that starts our journey, we better start by defining the use of our gifts in these terms. What does it mean to “subdue the earth” and how do your gifts make that happen? If you are ever to use your gifts in the exercise of dominion, what would that look like? As Christians, we have the promise of inheriting this earth someday. The earth we populated, subdued and ruled over in this life.
Now, get started!