If you do an internet search on the phrase “finding your purpose,” Google identifies approximately 1,140,000,000 websites, books, blogs, op-ed pieces, podcasts, academic papers, etc. that might help in the quest to determine what one’s purpose is in life. Without any internet help, I can tell you that the Westminster Shorter Catechism tackles this age-old topic with its very first question:

Q.  What is the chief end of man?

A.  Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

The Baltimore Catechism answers the same question in this way:

A.  God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.

It really is that simple.

God made us, and our purpose is to glorify Him by loving and serving Him on earth and then delight in His presence for eternity in heaven.

It should come as no surprise that our culture presents a competing purpose – in its opinion a better purpose – find “happiness.” Today’s culture would like to convince us that its worldly-wise ways are best, but the narcissistic, hedonistic pursuit of happiness is ultimately a deeply unsatisfying alternative to the purpose God has designed for mankind.

Thousands of years ago, a very wise man wandered away from a life of substance and purpose to embrace the siren call of a worldly culture. He plunged into an existence defined by materialism, sensuality, even idolatry. As he gave himself over to indulging his every desire, he began to realize that his very life was evaporating into insignificance. Nearing the end of his days, the man repented of his folly and wrote a philosophical book which exposed the futility of the secular mind and worldview.

Of course I am describing King Solomon and the book of Ecclesiastes. In this book of wisdom literature, Solomon chronicles his search for happiness. From sobriety to drunkenness, from the worship of God to the worship of idols, from the heights of philosophy to the depths of depravity, Solomon experienced all that the world had to offer. So, what was his assessment of his exhaustive pursuit? “All is vanity” (Eccles.1:2.)

In the end, Solomon discovered that his striving was vanity – worthless, hollow, fruitless. The wisest man in the world concluded that his search had been an utter waste: all of his strength exerted for nothing, all of his wealth squandered for zilch, all of his mental energy spent pointlessly, all of his spiritual energy expended to no purpose.

Ecclesiastes is the account of Solomon’s life of empty endeavors. Yet, through this king and his sad story, God teaches us that life apart from Him is vain – hollow and worthless, without purpose. According to the book, unbelievers who search for wisdom might as well be chasing after the wind (Eccles. 1:14, 17), but Christian readers of Ecclesiastes, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, will discern that there are but two options: a life of hopelessness or the confident hope of a life entrusted to God. No hope or eternal hope – the choice seems obvious!

Knowing that life lived apart from God is vanity, how then should we live and to what purpose? The Word of God instructs us to “number our days” (Ps. 90:12), “to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23), and to “lay up treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19-21). If we are not consumed with the pursuit of material things that will burn up at the end of this age, shouldn’t we be laser-focused on doing the Lord’s work, laboring for what will last, and seeking His will in our every endeavor?

Of course we should! We ought to be the most intentional and diligent people on the face of the earth, purposefully and persistently seeking God in everything we set out to do, always aware that we are ambassadors of His Kingdom. But do our lives and our priorities reflect this ideal? Do we truly strive to glorify God in every aspect of our lives?

With ever-increasing intensity, our culture is attempting to force Christians to adopt its distorted and depraved worldview regarding marriage, family, abortion, sexuality, gender identity, religion, and absolute truth. Don’t fall for the lies or succumb to the pressure! We must jettison anything that distracts, degrades, and deters us from glorifying God, and instead wisely double down on what matters – what we know is true and what we know has eternal value.

In the end, unlike those of our culture, our efforts will not be in vain. When we refuse to run after empty, hollow, worthless endeavors (with the help of the Holy Spirit), we will leave futility and vanity behind and find genuine happiness in fulfilling our chief purpose – to love, serve, and glorify God as we do His will.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently came out with a report with staggering information.  Suicide is on the rise.  The report mentions that suicide rates are up more than 30 percent in half of the United States since 1999.

The report also shares that more than half of the people who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. In 2016 alone, about 45,000 lives were lost to suicide.  Suicide is now one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.  Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams, and Kate Spade were all victims of suicide.

What leads a person to a place of contemplating of taking their own life?  In many cases, it’s boiled down to the feeling of being hopeless.

When we edge God out of our society, government and lives, we will place our hope, strength and comfort in the wrong things.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 paints a grim picture of what life looks like without God.

“I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.
And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
But better than both
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.”

Solomon (the writer of this passage) examined the oppressed. He noted that there is none to comfort them in their oppression. If there is no comforter, the oppressed suffer, and that’s just the way things are.

After seeing a life of hurt, pain and brokenness without a comforter, the final conclusion was that it would be better never to exist in a world without God due to the amount of evil and suffering under the sun.  (Verse 3)

As unrighteousness continues to be on the increase in our culture, the Church needs to be ready to minister, because unrighteousness only leads to brokenness. 

Abortion leads to brokenness

Illinois Right To Life quotes some eye-opening statistics, “Women with a history of abortion have higher rates of anxiety (34 percent higher), depression (37 percent), alcohol use/misuse (110 percent), marijuana use (230 percent), and suicidal behavior (155 percent) compared to those who have not had abortions.”

Homosexuality leads to brokenness

The Central Disease Center has quoted on their website, “In 2014, gay and bisexual men made up an estimated 2 percent of the U.S. population, but accounted for 70 percent of new HIV infections. Approximately 492,000 sexually active gay and bisexual men are at high risk for HIV.”

Divorce leads to brokenness

Divorce makes a negative impact on the family, not to mention the lasting effects on children.

Pornography leads to brokenness

Porn ruins a person’s ability to relate with others sexually and ruins marriages.  A 2016 Science Magazine study revealed divorce rates double when people start watching porn.

Premarital Sex leads to brokenness

In addition to the risk of contracting STDs and other diseases or becoming pregnant, premarital sex leads to emotional distress, distrust, regret and emptiness.

As unrighteousness continues to be on the increase in our culture, the Church must be ready to minister, because unrighteousness only leads to brokenness.

And sadly the brokenness will continue if we allow evil to prevail in our culture, government and families.  As the Church, we’d better get ready to respond. We have the message of hope.

Jesus said, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” ~John 4:35

What can you do? 

PRAY: That pastors and churches will be faithful in sharing the full Gospel, which can bring hope and cultural transformation.

PRAY: That you can be a willing vessel in sharing God’s wonderful message of grace.

PRAY: That you can support ministries that are promoting a biblical worldview and/or ministering to those who are broken.

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