So lately, I've been thinking... what's the meaning of it all?
This age old question about the meaning of life has been discussed time and time again. But when you really think about it, we don't last too long in this world, in this life. So, how do we spend our time here? I'm not thinking so much about the why behind it all as I am the what. I know my why, my reason for living the way I live, my reason for living at all. Some people don't, but having Jesus in my heart and a devotion to live for him: I have my why.
But what are we doing with our lives? What are we striving for? So many people strive for fame and fortune, and even followers of God like to have a little money to spare. But, like, really... what are we doing with our lives?
Maybe this is the college student side of me that is wondering about what the future holds and where life is going next, especially when reflecting on all the adventures I've already been through lately. But this seems to be a legitimate concern too, even for people who appear to have their lives together.
What does a daily routine look like for you? Wake up, brush your teeth, go to work, go home, eat whatever's quick and easy, watch TV, scroll through your social media, then go to bed and do it all again the next day? That seems like the life of far more people now than I used to think lived this kind of life. And what for? Why are we doing this? Why do we allow ourselves to live this way?
I don't want my life to look like that.
Now, I don't see anything wrong with a little Netflix and leftover pizza, but let's be real, there's no meaning in a life that revolves around such trivialities. There's no meaning in a life that revolves around anything other than God. As the Teacher in Ecclesiastes writes, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" Later this author writes about how people should live in awe of God and obey him, but it's hard to see people living that way when their everyday schedule looks like the one I mentioned before. Even if part of your every day is prayer and reading the Bible, what's the point if you just keep Jesus to yourself every day without actually sharing what God's doing in your life with the people around you? Or even if you do get to grow personally through your job, what's the point if you just go to work for your paycheck without actually enjoying your job? That's not to say you can't have days where these situations happen, but if this is your whole life? What needs to change at that point? And it also seems kind of pointless to live a life where you're not engaging with people, or adventuring and trying new things and growing as a person.
What can you do to change your lifestyle?
I don't know how to make my life more meaningful sometimes. But I know that life is short and you gotta be willing to take risks if you wanna get anywhere with your life. My great-grandmother passed away recently, but in her final days she shared that she doesn't want people to remember the bad stuff or live with regrets, but to remember the good that has happened. I've also been thinking about how short life can be. There was just a car accident the other day in my hometown where a few people died, and I'm sure since then there are people who have died from suicide, accidents, health issues or illness, or a number of other causes. Yet I'm still here, and who knows for how long, so I ought to make the most of it.
I don't wanna live a life of meaninglessness. I wanna live a life full of love and accomplishments and adventures, even if it means risking myself sometimes, so that I can be a light to those around me. It's a rough world to live in, but if we don't try to make it better, we're just gonna have to watch it get worse and watch the light of the world slowly go out, like the last embers of a fire, until nothing is left. And that truly seems meaningless.
I was also reading in 1 Corinthians 13 about how if you speak in tongues or prophecy or give to the poor but you don't love the people around you, you're efforts are in vain and useless. I heard a little voice in my head tell me, "If you live in obedience and righteousness, but have not love, it is meaningless." So do more. Live a life of love for others. Philippians 2:4 puts it this way, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This should be incorporated into the other aspects of our lives, whether we're simply living them out, working on them, and striving to change them into something better.
So what are we waiting for? It's about time to add some meaning to our lives, and that can look different for everyone. Change something in your life. Help someone in need. Start a garden. Go on an adventure. Love people around you through it all. I don't care what you do as long as it helps you find meaning in your life and make a difference for others and/or yourself. Make your world a little better, and you'll be able to help others make theirs a little better too.
This age old question about the meaning of life has been discussed time and time again. But when you really think about it, we don't last too long in this world, in this life. So, how do we spend our time here? I'm not thinking so much about the why behind it all as I am the what. I know my why, my reason for living the way I live, my reason for living at all. Some people don't, but having Jesus in my heart and a devotion to live for him: I have my why.
But what are we doing with our lives? What are we striving for? So many people strive for fame and fortune, and even followers of God like to have a little money to spare. But, like, really... what are we doing with our lives?
Maybe this is the college student side of me that is wondering about what the future holds and where life is going next, especially when reflecting on all the adventures I've already been through lately. But this seems to be a legitimate concern too, even for people who appear to have their lives together.
What does a daily routine look like for you? Wake up, brush your teeth, go to work, go home, eat whatever's quick and easy, watch TV, scroll through your social media, then go to bed and do it all again the next day? That seems like the life of far more people now than I used to think lived this kind of life. And what for? Why are we doing this? Why do we allow ourselves to live this way?
I don't want my life to look like that.
Now, I don't see anything wrong with a little Netflix and leftover pizza, but let's be real, there's no meaning in a life that revolves around such trivialities. There's no meaning in a life that revolves around anything other than God. As the Teacher in Ecclesiastes writes, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" Later this author writes about how people should live in awe of God and obey him, but it's hard to see people living that way when their everyday schedule looks like the one I mentioned before. Even if part of your every day is prayer and reading the Bible, what's the point if you just keep Jesus to yourself every day without actually sharing what God's doing in your life with the people around you? Or even if you do get to grow personally through your job, what's the point if you just go to work for your paycheck without actually enjoying your job? That's not to say you can't have days where these situations happen, but if this is your whole life? What needs to change at that point? And it also seems kind of pointless to live a life where you're not engaging with people, or adventuring and trying new things and growing as a person.
What can you do to change your lifestyle?
I don't know how to make my life more meaningful sometimes. But I know that life is short and you gotta be willing to take risks if you wanna get anywhere with your life. My great-grandmother passed away recently, but in her final days she shared that she doesn't want people to remember the bad stuff or live with regrets, but to remember the good that has happened. I've also been thinking about how short life can be. There was just a car accident the other day in my hometown where a few people died, and I'm sure since then there are people who have died from suicide, accidents, health issues or illness, or a number of other causes. Yet I'm still here, and who knows for how long, so I ought to make the most of it.
I don't wanna live a life of meaninglessness. I wanna live a life full of love and accomplishments and adventures, even if it means risking myself sometimes, so that I can be a light to those around me. It's a rough world to live in, but if we don't try to make it better, we're just gonna have to watch it get worse and watch the light of the world slowly go out, like the last embers of a fire, until nothing is left. And that truly seems meaningless.
I was also reading in 1 Corinthians 13 about how if you speak in tongues or prophecy or give to the poor but you don't love the people around you, you're efforts are in vain and useless. I heard a little voice in my head tell me, "If you live in obedience and righteousness, but have not love, it is meaningless." So do more. Live a life of love for others. Philippians 2:4 puts it this way, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This should be incorporated into the other aspects of our lives, whether we're simply living them out, working on them, and striving to change them into something better.
So what are we waiting for? It's about time to add some meaning to our lives, and that can look different for everyone. Change something in your life. Help someone in need. Start a garden. Go on an adventure. Love people around you through it all. I don't care what you do as long as it helps you find meaning in your life and make a difference for others and/or yourself. Make your world a little better, and you'll be able to help others make theirs a little better too.
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