What do you seek in life ?

Many people are encumbered with the pursuits of 5Cs – car, condo, certificate, career and country club. Some had advanced to the pursuits of the 5Bs – for BMW, bungalow, to be a boss and billionaire, and to gain a business franchise. They spend all their time and energy to achieve their goals, and to come up tops in this rat-race society. The apostle James gives the example of those who make great plans for their future, to buy and sell, and to get gain (Jas. 4:13). James frowned upon such an approach because it is a very human approach in planning where man thinks that he can secure his own future in the absence of God. In all our planning, first, we must consider that our life on earth is frail and brief; and that we may not know if we are to last until tomorrow. So, what is our pursuits in life? Second, we must plan with the purpose of fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. And whatever we do, we are to do good to glory of God. Jesus taught the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). He said that there was a certain rich man who had a great harvest of the crops. That rich man began to plan and strategize on his capital gains to secure his future. But what happened to this rich man in that parable? Jesus said that when God required his life that night, all his great and grand plans came to nothing. So, what is good about having great plans, when these plans are crafted mainly based on what we can do without a thought of what God wants us to do? Jesus ended the parable with these words, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Life is meaningless when it is found in the absence of God. James reminded us that our existence on earth is merely transient (Jas. 4:14). We do not live forever. No matter how long we live, we will eventually die. Time will still continue on after our death. So, what are we going to do with the limited time which God has given unto us? How do we respond to the reality of our life which is brief and frail? Some respond by filling their lives with the things and the pleasures of this world (Epicurean philosophy). Their purpose of living is to enjoy life. Their chief end is not to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever but to enjoy themselves forever. The things of this world can never be able to fill our heart and its desire. The abundance of things do not satisfy us. Instead, it creates covetousness in us: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Man’s life is not measured in terms of the abundance of things he possessed. In secular sociology, you learn about the pyramid of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. According to Maslow, the basic needs of man are food, raiment and shelter at the bottom of the pyramid. But as these needs are satisfied, humans have other higher-level needs. And to Maslow, the highest need of human beings is self-actualization. That is the perspective of Maslow, from a secular and godless point of view. But the needs of mankind are beyond that. The greatest need of mankind is not self-actualization but a need to find the purpose and meaning in life, and to be reconciled with God. When God created us, we created us with a soul which desires to fellowship with God. When a man is apart from God, there is a great void in his soul. In his attempt to fill this void in his soul, man filled it with the things of this world. However, nothing in this word can ever replace the soul’s need to be reconciled back to God. What the physical of this world can bring is temporal but shallow happiness. There is no permanent peace and joy in the soul of men. The only way for the soul to find peace and rest is when it rests upon Jesus Christ. Augustine said: “O Lord, Thou hast created us for Thyself; and our souls are restless till they find rest in Thee.” The pursuit in life for the material things of this world is both foolish and unsatisfying. Whatever we obtained in this life on earth, if it is at the expense of drawing ourselves nearer to God, will be a great loss. Jesus asked this question, “36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). What is so good if you can gain the world and all that is therein and to lose your soul for eternity? All the things in this world will be meaningless to you when you have to leave the world behind you. So, what is the purpose of your life? James says, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Jas. 4:15). Do not boast that you can live your lives in the absence of God. Instead, seek what God wants us to do and to do His will. Do you live life by pursuing the success as defined by the world? Do you live a life pursuing for that which is pure folly? What is the meaning and purpose of your living on earth? What happens when your life on earth is up? Would you be ready to come before the Almighty Creator and tell Him that you have used your life according to what He has commanded you, and you are returning the talents together with what has been gained by you unto Him? Would you be receiving the commendation from the King of kings and Lord of lords, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord”? Let not the things of the world be our pursuits and priorities in our life. Instead, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness in our lives first, and God, will provide for all your other needs (Matt. 6:33). So, why not live it for Jesus dutifully and faithfully until we see Him face to face? HCL.