April 27, 2003

The Meaning of Life

Who am I?. Why am I here? How can I be happy and fulfilled? What is this life all about, anyway?

Someone asked Jesus this question once, and Jesus gave a wonderful answer:

JESUS’ ANSWER

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:28-31).

The Scribe's question, "Which is the first commandment of all?" is really the same as "What is the meaning of life?" but with different words. If an Amazon aborigine asked you, "What is a car?" you would say something about how it was made, what it is used for, and how it works. An owner's manual might be helpful. If someone asks "What is human life all about?" we would answer similarly: We have a Maker, we are here to do His will, he has given us an operator's manual (the 10 commandments).

RELATIONSHIPS

Notice that the key concept in Jesus' reply is RELATIONSHIPS.

If you try to imagine a man with no relationships, you will quickly see that his life is meaningless. Suppose he is an atheist living all alone in a tent in the wilds. He never communes with God. He has no radio. He has no books. He never sees or hears another human being. He nothing for anyone, and no one does anything for him. He has NO RELATIONSHIPS AT ALL. Obviously his life is meaningless.

Then consider yourself: You believe in God. You talk with God, and God speaks to you in His Word. You read books, newspapers, and you watch TV and listen to the radio. You interact daily with your spouse, children, parents, sisters, brothers, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members and a multitude of other people. You laugh, you cry, you work, you share, you fight, you make peace, you help people, they help you. You experience frustrations, and you have triumphs. YOUR LIFE HAS MEANING BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Jesus says that the 10 Commandments are about relationships, first with God, and then with man. Anyone examining the 10 commandments can see that they divide into two sections: Commandments 1-4 have to do with our relationship with God. Commandments 5-10 have to do with our relationship to mankind.

1. Don't worship other Gods
2. Don't worship by means of images
3. Don't take God's name in vain
4. Keep the Sabbath day for God

5. Honor parents
6. Don't murder anyone
7. Don't commit adultery with anyone
8. Don't steal from anyone
9. Don't lie about your neighbor
10. Don't covet your neighbor's stuff

The Ten Commandments are a summary. They bring together many other biblical teachings, and express them in a shortened form. They can and should be expanded. They are not merely negatives, but they have a positive side also. For example, this is how the Westminster Larger Catechism expands on the seventh commandment:

Q137. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Q138. What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
A. The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections, words, and behavior; and the preservation of it in ourselves and others; watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses; temperance, keeping of chaste company, modesty in apparel; marriage by those that have not the gift of continency, conjugal love, and cohabitation; diligent labor in our callings; shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.

Q139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent or light behaviour, immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages; allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; entangling vows of single life, undue delay of marriage, having more wives or husbands than one at the same time; unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company; lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays; and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.

BACK TO MARK 12

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

LOVE GOD AND MAN

Life has meaning to the degree that we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength.

A. Heart -- your inner person, your spirit
B. Soul -- your emotions
C. Mind -- your intelligence
D. Strength -- your physical strength

By our dedication to God, by our love for Him, by our emotional committment to Him, by the way we serve Him with our bodies by actually doing deeds in His name and for Him, all of this measures the depth of our relationship with God. The deeper our relationship with God, the more meaningful life becomes.

Jesus also taught that life has meaning to the degree that we love our "neighbor" as we love ourselves. "Neighbor" includes EVERYONE ON EARTH, not merely your next-door neighbor. That includes your spouse, parent, child, etc. In order for our lives to have meaning, we must be busy building relationships of love, service and companionship with everyone around us. To be with people, help people, worship with people, work together with people, laugh and cry with people, enjoy the company of people, this all gives meaning to life.

THE FIRST STEP

What is the meaning of life? Jesus gave the answer very clearly. The life that has a full and loving relationship with God, and with mankind, is a life full of meaning. Jesus also said that the only way to begin this relationship with God was through believing in Him (Jesus), and receiving Him as Savior by faith. Jesus said:

"...even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:14-18).

Jesus also said:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

If you want to know the meaning of life, and actually experience a full and joyful life, you must become a believer in, and a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.