Purpose of Life
by Samantha
What is the purpose of life in the bible? It says everything is meaningless.
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Samantha,
Thanks for asking this question! I think it is a question many people wonder...."what is the purpose of my life?" and one reason the book "Purpose Driven Life" has sold millions of copies!
Here’s a little insight from my husband CJ, “King Solomon was the author of Ecclesiastes and he had experienced just about everything life has to offer. He had power, wealth, prestige, wisdom, and he still found life itself to be meaningless...apart from God. You sense the longing for something more that Solomon had. We see it all around us in our culture of abundance. He writes about the seeking of pleasure in chapter 2 and this is right where we are as Americans...pleasure seekers in order to avoid our pain & loneliness.
Read enough of Ecclesiastes and it should drive a person to asking some deeper questions that ultimately point to God and our fulfillment in Him.”
So, let's look at the definition of purpose in the dictionary.
Webster's Dictionary - www.m-w.com/dictionary:
PURPOSE - 1 a: something set up as an object or end to be attained : intention b: resolution, determination2: a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution
ATTAIN - 1 : to reach as an end : gain, achieve 2 : to come into possession of : obtain 3 : to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement
So you can think of purpose as something to be attained or reaching an end or a goal. Does that definition make sense?
I searched the word “purpose in the bible and here are a few verses I found:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Psa 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
Psa 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.
Pro 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,* who* have been called according to his purpose.
John 10:10 (NLT) The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
If you are a follower of Christ, your purpose is to become more like Him and live out His purpose since He now lives in you. You are created for God and by God (Colossians 1:16), so your purpose comes from Him. If you are not a follower of Christ, I encourage you to begin a spiritual search. If you need help in this, let us know.
So, what was Jesus' purpose? You can get a good idea by reading the books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the bible. Here are a few insights.
Luke 4:18-19 - “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
This is a topic that entire books have been written about. So, if you are still wanting to know more, I’d recommend reading a book like “Purpose Driven Life” to learn more.
I believe God has a purpose and plan for you life. How do I know this? He tells me this in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”
I’d like to close by praying for you. “Lord, I thank you for Samantha and her desire to know the purpose for her life. I pray you would open her mind and heart to understand what her purpose in life is. I thank you for creating her and I thank you that you do have a plan and a purpose for her. I pray that she would have a hunger and a thirst to find her purpose in You and not in the meaningless things of the world. I thank you for what you are going to do in Samantha’s life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Shelley
