Finding Meaning in Life

 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:7-11 ESV).

 

Recently while reading Clinical Psychiatry (I know… that’s awfully haughty to namedrop that journal) one of the articles cited a study surrounding the observation that most people don’t discover their meaning in life until they are 60 years old. In conducting interviews with 1,042 people aged 21 to more than 100 years old it was revealed that people tend to feel like their lives have meaning at around age 60, or more specifically, that’s the age at which the search for meaning is often at its lowest, and the “presence” of meaning is at its highest. It is important to know your “meaning in life” since knowing the answer could be a boon to your physical and mental health. It is commonly accepted that people tend to thrive with a sense of purpose.

 

Well, if you’re not 60 and want to know what the answer is to this question let me draw your attention to the definitive source of Scripture. Our reading today quotes Jesus’ teaching giving us the clue: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (v. 10). I believe that the Bible often clearly teaches this principle of “abundant living.” Our problem is typically that we don’t recognize what creates abundance in life.

 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, completed in 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, continues to serve as part of the doctrinal standards of many Presbyterian churches. I happen to believe many of these same principles. For example, Question 1 of the catechism is “What is the chief end of man?” In answer they say, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” There are many cited Biblical references: Psalm 86:9; Isaiah 60:21; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 16:5-11; Luke 2:10; and Philippians 4:4 to name a few.

 

Let me simplify a bit. Abundant life is when we are children of God destined for eternal life with our Creator and Heavenly Father. Abundant life is when we know our gifts and abilities and use them in service of community bringing glory to the One who gave them to us. Abundant life is when we acknowledge the glorious nature of our God and praise Him for our being. I confess I learned that a long time before I was 60; however, I have gotten much better at the doing of it as time passes!