Life’s Purpose

I’ve just returned from a week away on vacation, and soon school will start again—which means back to work for me, having taken off most of the summer, away from my daily writing. I spent most of my summer weeks with family, friends, vacations and some fun reading. I couldn’t stay away from writing altogether, of course, and so I did manage to write half of a book. I wrote when the house was quiet and the time convenient, not on the daily schedule I keep through the school year. This is the time I look forward to most, I think, because I’m happiest when I’m working.

Which leads me to today’s topic. Some people might think I’ve discovered my purpose in life because I find joy in the work God leads me to do. But is my purpose to find my own happiness, whether through work or service?

Secular thinking leads us to think happiness is life’s goal. They say everyone deserves to be happy. Even our Declaration of Independence says human beings have the right to pursue happiness.  A more selfless way this is expressed might be for a parent to say: All I want is for my kids to have a happy life.

That’s understandable. When we love someone, we want them to be happy. God Himself, the perfect parent, said He wants us to have an abundant life. (John 10:10) Doesn’t that mean even He wants us to be happy?

The older I get, the more I believe happiness is a by-product rather than the main thing in life. When I read Jesus’ greatest command—to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and then love our neighbor as our self (Matt 22:36-40) I’m not seeing where our personal happiness is part of our direct purpose.

I read an atheist’s blog posting which tried to debunk the Christian ideal of purpose in life. His understanding of Christian purpose to be singular, one part of a greater puzzle God designed to coordinate each and every one of us. In essence, said this atheist, we’re all just cogs on a giant wheel, slaves to whatever single purpose God wired into us. There is therefore no free will in the Christian worldview but rather a track we’re supposed to follow and stick to it if we’re to find our purpose. Alternatively, he believed purpose is better found in life through the freedom of choice, unlimited and not being a slave to God.

Obviously I disagree with almost everything this atheist believes. I do agree freedom is an important element in our happiness, but it’s God Himself who created us to value and pursue freedom. We’re free to choose our path in life—with God or without Him, and how to spend the time we have here on earth. We’re not cogs on a giant wheel with only one place to fit.

While I do believe God gives each of us special talents and things we particularly enjoy—just as I enjoy writing, an artist enjoys painting or a singer enjoys singing—I think happiness is a by-product of doing something that naturally reflects the glory of God. Many people have multiple talents that bring them happiness. Beside writing, I enjoy decorating and running a household. And that—not the work itself—is where purpose is found. We reflect God’s glory to others in what we love to do. At any given time in my life I’ve been able to choose how to spend my time, but it’s when I’m doing something that reflects God’s glory (such as writing a story that honors Him) that I’m happiest.

When I look out my window and see a bird flying, showing off its color to me, singing a melody, all I can think is that bird is fulfilling its purpose. It’s proclaiming God’s glory in its unique beauty, just by doing some of things God wired it to do.

I think Psalm 9:1 gives us a closer definition of the purpose of life: we’re to proclaim God’s wonders. That means knowing God, and reflecting the glory of His work back to Him. The little birds around us do that with every breath of their life.

So . . . should I pursue happiness? Do I want my kids to be happy? Rather than putting the emphasis on happiness, we should probably think of the real purpose in life as pursuing knowledge of God and reflecting His glory. Happiness is sure to follow.