A Life of Purpose
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:15-16 (ESV)
I read a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that stated: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” This is a true statement, and it goes along with the precepts God teaches in the Bible. Of course, God wants His children to be happy however, as the quote states and the Bible teaches, that should not be our entire motivation and goal in life. Seeking worldly happiness and self-indulgent activities/pleasures may be rewarding for a time but will not produce lasting joy and peace.
God wants His children to be caring and compassionate about community, those who are around you. Not just immediate family but, neighbors, colleagues, church members, the person you see weekly while shopping, etc. God wants us to live our life being compassionate and kind; to build a community where we seek to give back and lend a helping hand to someone else. The purpose of our life should be to make a positive difference in someone's life and this world. Otherwise, as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 1:14 in the Bible, life will be meaningless if we are only seeking material things and selfish pleasures.
So, my encouragement would be to live a life of honor, integrity, and Godly purpose. To go and shine the light of God and spread His message to this dark and troubled world. Live a life of beautiful purpose that is not solely centered on yourself but on making a difference in other people's lives.
Blessings,
Angélique
To contact: 21stcglmediateam@gmail.com
