Brilliant Answers

CWV-101 Topic 7 Overview

Living With Purpose

Introduction

This last topic will take wisdom to the maximum point by looking at two critical topics:

purposeful living and ethical living. Here you will come to grips with the two big

questions: "Why am I living?" (for what purpose), and "How am I living?" (with what

values).

Purposeful Living

You can know from Scripture that God indeed has a purpose for his people. You can

read in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work

together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (ESV). Note that

the main thrust of the sentence, "all things work together for good," is sandwiched

between the two qualifiers "for those who love God" and "for those who are called

according to his purpose." Since these two quotes are referring to the same people, you

can presume that those who love God are those who are called according to his

purpose.

Jesus himself also made it clear that the two greatest commandments are to "love God

and love your neighbor" (Matt. 22:37-40). So you may say that learning to love is a large

part of your purpose in life, and as you learn to love God, loving your neighbor comes a

whole lot easier. And this lifelong purpose of learning to love God and people points to

an even deeper purpose—glorifying God.

Question one of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is man's primary

purpose?" And the answer is, "Man's primary purpose is to glorify God, and to enjoy him

forever" (Westminster Assembly, Kelly, Rollinson, & Marsh, 1986). Glorifying God

involves living to please God, giving thanks, openly acknowledging him, and letting

others know the "reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15).

Along with loving God and glorifying God is the great discovery of enjoying him. You can

read in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your

heart." You may be unhappy on the outside in the midst of bad circumstances and many

afflictions, but on the inside experiencing peace and joy as you delight in the Lord and

fellowship with God.

The final goal you might say, as you are told in Romans 8:29, is to be conformed to the

image of Christ. For the Christian, the final goal is "the upward call of God" (Phil. 3:14)

toward which they press on through life, knowing that one day Christ will return and

"we shall be like him" (1 John 3:2). This final state of glorification is promised for all who

are now in heaven and for all who will follow until Jesus returns. Paul speaks of that

imperishable, resurrected state in 1 Corinthians 15:42-57, and you are given a glimpse

of what awaits you in Revelation 21 where you will dwell with God, and he will wipe

away all your tears. "Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor

crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4).

Ethical Living

Purposeful living leads to ethical living, and the Bible has a lot to say about this, not only

in the moral law of the Ten Commandments, but in the lessons learned through the

historical accounts, the writings of the Wisdom literature, the exhortations of the

prophets, the writings of the apostles, and the words of Jesus. Perhaps the most

powerful statement Jesus said concerning right living is John 8:12, "I am the light of the

world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The Old Testament speaks much about wisdom and integrity. The following from

Proverbs 2:1-10 targets such wisdom directly:

1 My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

2 making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

3 yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 guarding the paths of justice

and watching over the way of his saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice

and equity, every good path;

10 for wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Conclusion

If you have never read the Bible all the way through, please accept this challenge to do

so. You will find much food for your soul and provide a direct line for God to speak to

you about the deeper things of life. That, together with prayer, worship, and Christian

fellowship, will keep you in a right relationship with God.

References

Westminster Assembly, Kelly, D. F., Rollinson, P. B., & Marsh, F. T. (1986). The

Westminster shorter catechism in modern English. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and

Reformed Pub. Co.

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