Mine is this--as reflected in the gretaest commandment--to love the Lord with all your heart, mind , soul, and strength, and the second is like unto it--to love your neighbor as yourself. This puts relationships as the highest order in life. First our relationship to God, and secondly to our fellow man. Everything we do and say should be governed by these perameters. I love to hunt and fish, but my relationship to God and to others around me must take precedence over my own persoanl wants. Paul adds, in Phil 2 , that we should not look only unto our own interests, but also to the interests of others, which I think is merely another way of saying the same thing Jesus did, in the giving of the greatest commandment. I truly believe, that if we can keep these prioroties in line, we will fulfill the highest purpose for our lives. Simple yes, easy--no! If we do, then the things we enjoy, which are given to us by God, such as hunting and fishing(for me) become platfroms for our fulfilling ther higher purpose--service to others. We can use thes areas of interest to become areas of service, by looking out for others and loving God through our activities.It takes the same attitude that Christ had, as Paul goes on to say, to empty ourselves of the 'me first' selfishness that so easily dominates our lives. When we selfishlygrasp on to something, refusing to relinquish it's control to God, enabling it to be an avenue of service, we risk losing it altogether. Why, because it has no purpose other than to exist solely for ourselves, and our own personal use. I don't think that this is something that is a one time deal. Paul says we are to die daily--meaning that we relinquish,over and again ,the control of our wants and desires to the One who providied these things in the first place.It can be the difference between something being right and wrong, things that aren't 'wrong' in and of themselves--like hunting and fishing. When we yield them to His control, we are free to not only enjoy them, but they now take on eternal significnace, because they become avenues of realting to man and God. To God by loving Him enough to yield it, and to man by rearranging the order to become a method of service, rather than merely for ourselves.
RE: What , To You, is the Greatest Purpose in Life?
To keep things short, as you'll likely get a few long answers. (which is perfectly fine)
Right now I can't get over one verse...and hope to live my life by it because its one of those that if you get it down everything else will fall in place.
Micah 6:8
"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God?"
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Anything I say is my opinion, just that...and only that.
"...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
RE: What , To You, is the Greatest Purpose in Life?
To know Him and make Him known.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
RE: What , To You, is the Greatest Purpose in Life?
I agree with Chuck. We are here to glorify God. We are His, made by Him for His purposes. If you havent read, you need to read "The Purpose Driven Life, 40 Days of Purpose"by Rick Warren. It answers the questions,based on scripture, what am Ihere for? Larry
RE: What , To You, is the Greatest Purpose in Life?
Is to get through this life and stand before Him and hear "Good job, my good and faithful servant". That is all I want out of this life. Is to please Him.
What , To You, is the Greatest Purpose in Life?
