This question is often asked by someone
who feels that his life has little meaning. He
wonders who he is and why he is here. Maybe a
better question is: “How can I find meaning in
life?” or even “How can I make my life
meaningful?”
The Bible gives God’s answers to these
questions!
Your life can have meaning, from a Christian
perspective, through:
1. your family;
2. your friends;
3. your work;
4. your service;
5. your faith.
The Scriptures enable us to live meaningful
lives because they teach us truths about
ourselves, others, and the world in which we live.
We find many answers in Genesis, the first
book of the Bible. Our origin, identity and mission
are stated.
“So God created man in His own image; in
the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
We are created in the image of God!
This explains both our origin and our
identity. We are a creation of God. Adam is called
“the son of God” (Luke 3:38). We are God’s
offspring (Acts 17:28, 29). God is our Father!
Our life, as an image bearer of God, has
meaning regardless of our circumstances! We
understand our identity better when we learn
about God and His attributes from the Scriptures.
This enables us to follow our Father’s example
and to obey His instructions. This gives meaning
to our lives.
Family relationships give meaning to our lives.
God created us male and female. This is an
extremely important aspect of our identity and of
the meaning of our lives.
The continuation of life is an important part
of the meaning of life. “Then God blessed them,
and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill
the earth and subdue it’” (Genesis 1:28).
The husband-wife relationship gives meaning
to life. “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice
with the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18).
“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love”
(Ecclesiastes 9:9).
The parent-child relationship gives meaning
to life. “Children’s children are the crown of old
men, and the glory of children is their father”
(Proverbs 17:6).
These relationships give meaning and great
joy to life when the Creator’s instructions are
followed.
People who are not blessed with a marriage
partner or children, can have spiritual children
through the good influence they have on others.
The Messiah, who did not have physical children,
says: “Here am I and the children whom God has
given Me” (Hebrews 2:13). Paul, who was single,
calls Timothy: “my beloved and faithful son in the
Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
Friends give meaning to our lives.
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a
brother” (Proverbs 18:24). “Ointment and
perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a
man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel”
(Proverbs 27:9).
“Friends” is one of the designations for
Christians! John closes his third letter with, “Our
friends greet you. Greet the friends by name” (3
John 14).
Meaning is given to the life of a Christian by
these spiritual relationships in the church of Christ.
First of all, we have a relationship with Jesus
who said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you” (John 15:14) and “Whoever does
the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and
sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Paul
encourages Christians: “Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).
Productive work gives meaning to our lives.
“Nothing is better for a man than that he
should eat and drink, and that his soul should
enjoy good in his labor” (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
God told Adam and Eve to subdue the earth
and to “have dominion over the fish of the sea,
over the birds of the air, and over every living
thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
God also works! “Jesus answered them, ‘My
Father has been working until now, and I have
been working’” (John 5:17). We are made in the
image of our Creator, so we also are able to work
and create, and we find fulfilment in doing so!
Because rest is required to enable us to work,
rest also adds meaning to our lives.
God created us so that we spend about a
third of each day sleeping. After creation, God
rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:3). The law
of Moses provided for a weekly day of rest. Jesus
gives rest to Christians: “Come to Me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest” (Matthew 11:28). Notice that rest is
appreciated by those who labor. After our work on
earth is done, we can look forward to an eternal
rest (Hebrews 4:9).
After a busy time, Jesus told His disciples:
“‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place
and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and
going, and they did not even have time to eat”
(Mark 6:31). A well-earned holiday can add
meaning to life!
Serving others gives meaning to our lives.
Jesus encourages us to serve others
explaining that He himself “did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom
for many” (Matthew 20:28).
The life of someone who serves is meaningful.
Paul told the Ephesian elders: “I have shown
you in every way, by laboring like this, that you
must support the weak. And remember the words
of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed
to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
Some people mistakenly think that amassing
wealth gives meaning to life. But Jesus warned,
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s
life does not consist in the abundance of the things
he possesses” (Luke 12:15). In Ecclesiastes,
Solomon, one of the wealthiest men who ever
lived, said that all material gain is vanity.
The Christian faith gives meaning to our lives.
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly”
(John 10:10).
A Christian not only knows where he came
from, he also knows where he is going. His hope -
based on the promises of God - reaches beyond the
grave. Like Abraham, he seeks “the city which has
foundations, whose builder and maker is God”
(Hebrews 11:10).
Helping to spread the gospel of Christ gives
meaning to the life of a Christian.
What a privilege that we may proclaim God’s
message of salvation to the world! What could be
more meaningful than helping someone inherit
eternal life. Our assignment is: “Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature. He
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark
16:15, 16).
What have we learned?
In the Bible, God explains the meaning of life.
Because we are created in the image of God, we
understand the meaning of our lives better, the
more we learn about God.
Meaning is given to life by:
our family;
our friends;
our work;
our service;
our Christian faith.
“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
(1 Corinthians 10:31). To glorify God is the ultimate
meaning of life!
Amen.
Roy Davison
