To the Glory of God

What is the Main Purpose of Man?

Humankind has constantly been searching for meaning.

We want to be satisfied, yet everything we have sought, has left us empty.

We have sought the following myths:

Wealth and Pleasure

King Solomon is the best example of someone who had all the riches and pleasures, yet found it all meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:10–1 “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

Do we look to celebrities and influencers, who have amassed greats amount of wealth, as our examples of life that has meaning?

We see the pretty side of their lives through social media, but we are often shielded from the brokenness of their lives.

Just a small list of actors that have openly talked about the experiencing depression or a sense of unfulfillment in their lives are:

Jim Carrey - spoken about depression, has been quoted saying “ "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer."

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - Struggled with depression after his football career ended in college and again after his divorce with his wife.

Justin Bieber - The song lonely “Everybody knows my past now - Like my house was always made of glass - And maybe that's the price you pay - For the money and fame at an early age - And everybody saw me sick”

Power and Control

Early in the history of humanity we sought to exert out power and control over God.

Genesis 11:4 “Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

The greatest example of power and control over a group of people is the Kim Dynasty, in North of Korea, think of Kim Jong Un.

They have total control over the people of North Korea

They have total control of all media, travel, and speech

The people face starvation and poverty, while the leaders live in palaces and enjoy great wealth

Yet, despite this power and control, Kim Jong Un must live in:

Paranoia

Isolation

Idols

Humanity, since creation, has worshipped and served idols

Romans 1:22–25 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

What idols have we sought to give ourselves meaning?

Sports?

Do you derive your meaning from being the best athlete in your sport?

Social Media?

Do you thrive off the thrill of receiving likes and followers

Do you spend all your free moments doom scrolling through social media

Material wealth?

Do you compare yourself to others by the shoes you wear, the purse you carry, or the phone you have?

Fitness?

My pitfall

I could continue on:

Games

Physical appearance

Relationships

Academic success

We must look to the Bible to find our purpose.

So what is our main purpose?

Is it holiness?

(1 Peter 1:16) "Be holy, because I am holy"

Is it evangelism?

(Matthew 28:19) "go and make disciples of all nations".

Is it to serve others?

Matthew 25:38–40 “And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Is it to end injustice?

(Isaiah 1:17) “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

Each of these are biblical commands, but they are not our main purpose.

Our main purpose is to glorify God

Westminster Catechism of Faith words it this way

“The chief end of man is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever”.

John Piper repeats this meaning by saying

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

So where do we see this in scripture:

Isaiah 43:1–7

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

As Christians we join the Jewish people in this promise.

We, like the Jewish people, have been called out by God, and are created for His glory

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

“31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

We are called to do ALL things to the glory of God

What used to be idols to us can be used as a means to point us to God.

Sports

We do our best, enjoying sports as a gift from God, and give praise to God for anything we accomplish

We use it as an opportunity to share the Gospel.

Social Media

Every thing we post should honor God, and reflect the goodness of our God.

We manage our time on social media so that it doesn’t interfere with our time with God.

Material wealth

We utilize what we own to bring glory to God. Maybe your phone becomes a tool for God. Maybe we dress differently based upon those around us.

Fitness

We take care of my body so that I might serve God with it.

Those biblical principals that I mentioned earlier are given meaning as a way to give God glory.

Holiness

As Christians, God works in us to make us more Holy like Him, it is an ongoing progress that displays the glory of God and His transformative power.

Evangelism

When we spread the good news of the Gospel and people come to faith, they too can glorify and worship God.

Serving Others

The selfless love of serving others gives glory to God when we point that the source of our love is God.

Ending injustice

When we strive to end injustice in the name of the Lord, we are showing the world God’s righteousness and compassion.

The ultimate goal of these biblical principles is not found in themselves but in their ability to glorify God.

Only the Gospel can produce a life that Glorifies God

Only a transformed heart desires to glorify God.

This transformed heart is created through the power of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

What is this message that can transform your heart?

God, Man, Christ, Response