Does Life Have A Purpose?

There are some people who know what they want to do when they’re young and never veer from it. Itzhak Perlman decided as a little boy he wanted to play the violin.

Me

Most of us aren’t that way. My story is that at the age of 13 I felt the call of God on my life. It’s hard to explain but I was in a church service and Pastor Freeman challenged people to dedicate their lives to Christ. I went forward and did that and felt God called me to a life of itinerant Bible teaching.

I pursued that purpose by going to Bible college. Mid-way through I lost my compass, left Bible college and worked in various jobs in business until the age of 30. I enjoyed business but in my heart I knew that wasn’t what God wanted me to do. God blessed me but I was wandering aimlessly because I didn’t have a purpose. At the age of 30 God tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me. That’s when I first became a pastor. Since then God has opened many doors for me to fulfill the purpose I have in my heart.

We

Most of us do not spend a lot of time thinking about our purpose, at least on a cosmic scale. But the times we do can be troubling, especially if we suspect that there is no purpose. On the other hand, even for those who believe that our lives are heading somewhere—who believe there is an ultimate meaning—finding answers to life’s simple, everyday questions can be difficult.

Who should I spend time with? Where should I work? How should I spend my money? Is life all about my family? Does life have meaning if I make a positive difference in someone’s life?

A few quotes about purpose:

Leo Tolstoy said,

“Then what is life for? To die? To kill myself at once? No, I am afraid. To wait for death till it comes? I fear that even more. Then I must live. But what for? In order to die?”

The Devil and Other Stories (OUP Oxford, 2003).

Ernest Hemingway wrote,

“Life is just a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness.”

Quote taken from Cliffe Knechtle, Give Me an Answer (Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1986), 71.

Samuel Beckett said,

“They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more.”

Shmoop Editorial Team, “Waiting for Godot Life, Consciousness, and Existence Quotes,” Shmoop University, Inc., 11 November 2008, http://www.shmoop.com/ waiting-for-godot/life-consciousness-existence-quotes-6.html.

Henry David Thoreau said,

“The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.”

Walden (1854).

Solomon’s Quest

The first person to write, in detail, about this search for meaning was king over the ancient nation of Israel. King Solomon was more rich, powerful, and wise than any living person. He had it all, tried it all, and discovered some profound things as a result.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

· : His introduction (and conclusion) implies that riches, power, status, education, sex, adrenaline, knowledge—you name it—are not the things that will give us meaning. They can temporarily distract us from the question, and even give us some temporary satisfaction. But they will not reveal to us our purpose.

His introduction (and conclusion) implies that riches, power, status, education, sex, adrenaline, knowledge—you name it—are not the things that will give us meaning. They can temporarily distract us from the question, and even give us some temporary satisfaction. But they will not reveal to us our purpose.

Ecclesiastes 1:16–18 NIV

I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

Attaining great wisdom doesn’t give life meaning.

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Ecclesiastes 2:4–6 NIV

I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

Success and accomplishments such as building home, gardens, orchards doesn’t give life meaning.

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Ecclesiastes 2:8–11 NIV

I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Obtaining wealth, power, any human pleasure imaginable doesn’t give life meaning.

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Ecclesiastes 3:10–14 NIV

I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

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Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 NIV

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—

The normal course of events in life won’t give you meaning. The thought that purpose is just a short time away is vanity.

Ecclesiastes ; 5:10; 12:1, 7, 13

Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV

and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

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Solomon’s conclusion was: Life is meaningless without God. But God gives everything meaning.

· Conclusion: Life is meaningless without God. But God gives everything meaning.

How is this possible? It is by

How does God give life meaning?

Life has meaning when we see it from God’s perspective.

1 John 2:17 NIV

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The world’s future is dark. Life on earth is temporary.

1 John 3:2 NIV

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Our future is bright! Our eternal destiny is tied to Jesus.

Knowing this changes how we live right now!

Psalm 73:21–26 NIV

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:21

We can see God in all of life’s circumstances both good and bad. Sometimes life is good and sometimes it is bad. When life is hard, knowing our future gives our daily life meaning.

Psalm 17:15 NIV

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Psalm 17:6–15 NIV

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Psalm 17:

Life without God makes it meaningless.

We wander without direction. Even if we focus on tasks and goals to do in this life, it isn’t enough. What does “life without God” mean to you? What does it look like to live as if God exists? What do you do when you acknowledge God’s existence?

Life with God gives us direction and purpose

Life with God means we:

Trust Him

Pray

Read the Bible

Obey His commands

Seek to serve Him

Seek Him.

What do you do when you don’t acknowledge God’s existence?

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.”

Brennan Manning

When you are taking your last breaths, will you be longing to have earned more money, achieved more status, or networked with the right people?

Matthew 6:25–34 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

: Jesus challenges people to seek first God’s kingdom, saying that then the rest of life will have meaning and purpose.

Jesus challenges people to seek first God’s kingdom, saying that then the rest of life will have meaning and purpose.

Do you know god personally? If you don’t, here’s how. Believe the good news that Jesus died for our sins that keep us separated from God. Believe Jesus was buried and rose again to make it possible for you to spend eternity with God.

Bottom Line

Every person on Earth was created to know and love God personally.

Life is meaningless without God, but God gives everything meaning when we know Him by believing in Him and then living for Him.

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