The purpose of Life

What is the purpose of your life?

What a great question, right?

We are a fish swimming in the culture of consumerism. We want more. We need more. A life without contentment will never be satisfied.

A few years ago, Solomon discovered that chasing after money, popularity, pleasure, etc is utterly meaningless. He compares it to "chasing after the wind."


The challenge of working with kids


Over the past few weeks I have struggled with a student in my PE class. He does not respect me and to be honest it is really tough. There is a lot more to the story but to keep it simple he's attitude is disruptive to the class and less importantly the way he treats me hurts my feeling.


You may say, "its a kid" who cares? And I shouldn't but I want to be liked. I want to be popular. Or at the very least I want people to trust me. But I can change how you view me, just like you cannot change how I view you.

But the struggle is real?

The struggle  

Do you have a similar struggle? I believe this need to be "liked" is a dark side of a really good thing. I want to be influential.

I want to point people to Jesus and see lives transformed by the Gospel.


John the Baptist 

In the third chapter of John (The Apostle's) Gospel we read of an interesting case study between John the Baptist and Jesus.

Prior to the days of last names you were known for....

1) Your family!

Jeffrey, son of Joseph

2) Your job!

Jeffrey the Physical Educator

3) Your town!

Jeffrey of Ridgway.


So they called him John- The Baptist. He was known for baptizing people in the river. He would wash them and ask them to "repent of their sins" He did this to "prepare the way for the Messiah."


And by known- He was really known. People would travel days to see him. They would walk for days to see him. John had such a following that he had disciples (followers) just like Jesus did.

His disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." (John 3:26)

Do you hear how jealous his disciples are?

John--- you are losing popularity! We need to do some type of attractional ministry. Lets do a "2 for 1" Special?

 John's Response is amazing!- It is divine!

He replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way. It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom's friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows." (John 3:27-29)

John recognized that everything he had. All success. All popularity. All influence. Was and is a gift from God.

Do we recognize it as such? The normal human reaction is to be jealous.

Are we happy enough to work along side Jesus. To be the "best man" in his wedding? Or do we want to make everything about us?

Then John brings this amazing memory verse, "He must become greater and I must become less." (John 3:30).


Wow!

Good stuff!

He lost fans. He lost followers. Many of his followers went over to follow Jesus.

The purpose of life

So what is the purpose of your life? My life?

Is my purpose to get as much as possible. Have the nicest house, car, etc? Is it to be the most popular and have the greatest influence?

No.

There is nothing wrong with things but to make things the aim is misguided and shortsighted.


The purpose is to be like John the Baptist: To point people to Jesus. When people start following you point them to Jesus. Point them to the one that can save, heal, and deliever you.


To many kids, I am pretty awesome.

Working as a PE teacher does that. And if I let sin creep in I can let it destroy me.

Or I can point people to Jesus. I can set an example of how to love, forgive, and serve.

I pray that no matter your influence, dreams, hopes, and desires that you will chose to follow Jesus. And more than that I pray that you will point other people to the way of the Messiah: the way of love.