Living a Worthwhile Life

If you were asked to choose what matters most in making life worthwhile, what would you say? Through the ages, philosophers have believed that all of life is a search for meaning and purpose. Jesus said, "I am come that you may have life in all its fullness," which implies he gives meaning and purpose for every aspect of life.

Making the most of life includes living under the umbrella of the provisions Jesus promised for those who believe and trust in him. Faith in Christ builds a bridge to the fullness of life, the knowledge that nothing can separate you from his love, which includes forgiveness and freedom from the penalties of guilt and shame.

The fullness Jesus provides includes an optimistic attitude about the purpose God designed for you that has eternal value. By God’s grace and mercy, you are able to lay up treasures in heaven that are incorruptible and can never be lost. So give thanks to God for his goodness and kindness.      

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Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.

~Matthew 6:19-20 Good News Bible

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Attitude's Link to Happiness

How do you account for the happiness and satisfaction you experience each day? Some would say family life and closeness with loved ones play a major part. Others might say financial status and the security of a career. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ rank high on what gives meaning and purpose to most Christians.

Is there a particular image of yourself that you present to others, either consciously or unconsciously? Your eyes, a smile, a frown, your  voice are indicators of a positive or negative attitude that you project about your life. Your attitude determines the degree of happiness and purpose you experience in everyday life.

Attitudes are linked to your values, the way you feel about yourself, and what you believe is the meaning and purpose of life. Attitudes are bridge builders, for they determine your success or failure. Have you considered that Christ Jesus is the giver of wisdom and truth for discovering peace and joy in life?                           

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Be happy in the Lord, always! I’ll say it again: Be happy! … Finally, my fellow Christians, keep your minds on all that is true or noble, right or pure, lovely or appealing, on anything that is excellent or that deserves praise…Then the God of peace will be with you.  

~Philippians 4:4,8-9 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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Trusting God's Purpose

 

Early in childhood little boys and girls begin to say what they want to be when they grow up. Adolescent children verging on adulthood tend to examine more realistic career choices that will provide meaning and purpose to their lives. Some individuals choose a career that reflects God’s blessings as well as his special calling.

It’s possible to give in to the temptation of taking the path of least resistance, which requires minimal effort, instead of striving to be the very best God intended. Discovering what gives meaning and purpose to life is usually revealed through difficult challenges and a strong commitment to serve Christ Jesus.

It's important to believe God has a purpose for your life. Being committed to discovering God’s purpose ensures you will find it. Isaiah 26:3 gives this promise, "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm because they trust you." You were created for a special purpose, so take delight in that knowledge.                     

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After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.

~Ecclesiastes 12:13 Good News Bible

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Finding Meaning and and Purpose for Your Life

Numerous books have been written on man’s search for meaning and purpose that give us a reason to make the most of our time here on earth. Yet we encounter hindrances designed to prevent us from achieving those objectives. The desire to do better stimulates the will to strive for a healthier and happier life.

This is not easy. It requires dedication and commitment. Bob Woodward in writing about President Richard Nixon defined Nixon’s infamous struggles: "I am hurt, but I am not slain! I will lie down and bleed. Then I will rise up and fight again.” The Apostle Paul knew God’s purpose for himself, so he persistently pressed onward in the high calling of Christ Jesus.

Don't be surprised if obstacles from within and without rise up against you. The gospel hymn encourages you to “Take the name of Jesus with you” as protection wherever you go. If temptations gather around you, call out to Jesus for deliverance. So press on, do not give up, for God will help you.  

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…But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14  English Standard Version

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Whether Ordinary or Extraordinary, Choose God - Part 2

In the little Texas town where I grew up, life was basically ordinary and predictable. The pastor of our small Baptist church was also the town's plumber and electrician. As busy as he was, he was available, night or day, when anyone in this little community of six hundred needed him, regardless of church affiliation.

A thirty-something professional business woman lamented how dull, boring, and ordinary her life had become. She was at the point of becoming bitter because the limitations of her life were so confining and disappointing. Perhaps in subtle and not-so-subtle ways she came to expect not only instant gratification, but constant gratification.

Jesus observed in Matthew 19:24 that it’s “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus may have said this because it takes simple, ordinary faith to find meaning and purpose in the ordinary life God provides. Yet there is constant gratification in knowing you're secure in simple, ordinary faith.  

Never Too Late to Change - Part 1

The experiences of life, both positive and negative, work together to shape what we believe and how we behave. God designed us for growth, maturity, and change. An eighty-four year old woman proudly stated, "I'm still learning and changing." What we know and believe provides meaning and purpose to life.

When the prodigal son chose to go home and face his family, his attitude and mind-set had changed. His experience in the pig pen reshaped his entire belief system. He left home with an attitude of arrogance but returned with humility. Arrogance portrays false confidence. Humility reveals an attitude of flexibility, readiness to learn, and willingness to be transformed.

The father was so delighted to have his son back home that he celebrated by giving him a robe and ring and by throwing him a huge party. The pig pen experience helped the young man accept his father's love and generosity. This parable illustrates God's attitude toward us when we repent and return to him. 

Finding God's Purpose in Difficult Times - Part 3

Surviving or just getting by isn't an acceptable lifestyle for most people. Striving for something better is driven by a need to succeed. Marginal existence is unacceptable because it violates an internal code that says we're capable of reaching higher. Parents want their children to excel, for under-achieving creates sadness and frustration for most parents.

Survival is defined differently by those who comprise each socioeconomic class. Survival can be an issue even for those living in opulence. The 1960's produced a generation of young people who found little meaning in their parents' lifestyle. Survival meant rejecting the status quo as well as the conventionality of their parents.

For survival to have a full, rich meaning, it must include an acceptable purpose for life. Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full." Jesus is referring to a rich spiritual life that anchors the heart and soul.  He challenges us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This objective gives survival a new meaning and purpose.