Man’s Purpose in Life

THE EOMMA TALKS – ‘Man’s Purpose in Life’

Thank you for joining me @theeommatalks. Happy New Year. If you are joining me for the first time, please know that each time I refer to God, I mean Yahweh, as this is the name God asked that He be called.

As one-year ends, another begins with all the usual fireworks display all around the world. Growing up, I was taught to make new year resolutions and this meant I had to set goals and targets for my aspirations in that year. This normally involved making notes or drawing up a list. As a student, my goals & targets were pretty straight forward: to get good grades and to graduate with at least an upper second-class degree. Thereafter, when I started work, the vision behind my goals shifted. Some goals were successfully achieved, some failed and others I just abandoned. Naturally, whatever goals that were abandoned I tried very hard to mentally distance myself from it.

There is no better time to discuss the topic of ‘Man’s Purpose in Life’ than now as many people associate the beginning of the year with a need for change. I guess a few of you have either mentally noted your expectations for the year or you may have drawn up a list. Some of you may have taken the decision to not make a new year resolution. However, it remains to be seen anyone who has not reflected back on a year in comparison to another.

The frustration and fear stemming from failed resolutions is the main reason most do not want to start a year with drawn up lists or notes of what to do or achieve in a year. But we all seek to have a higher quality of life year on year.

I have a taster discussion on IGTV with three guests who helped to cast light on this topic. During the discussion, resolutions were categorised as goals aimed towards improving lifestyle such as: healthy eating, going to the gym, saving money, learning a new language, changing habits, and establishing discipline etc. The majority of the resolutions followed a set criterion as they centred around body image and taking inspiration from celebrities, politicians, or influencers on social media. However, purpose was not considered as an impacting factor when determining what resolutions to make but vision was. If you wish to listen to this talk, it’s on my Instagram page, @theeommatalks.

For most of my life, I always viewed vision as being the same as setting a target or a goal, and my vision consisted of what I considered important in life. This vision, by default, became my purpose in life. If things did not work out according to my vision, it meant I was failing in my purpose.

Later, I was introduced to the notion that living a successful life should be in accordance with the purpose that God has designed especially for you. Therefore, the idea of purpose became grander and I believed I needed to find and use my talent to realise my purpose.

For everyone, life is meaningless if you cannot fulfil your purpose as every other thing is inconsequential. Purpose is focused on why you exist, while vision should align you with your goals or targets. In the absence of purpose, vision is meaningless. I prayed and asked God to reveal my talent but the more I prayed and searched the more elusive and frustrating it became. I cannot sew, sing, paint, act, draw, knit, play instruments, and carrying out charitable works was neither a talent or a gift. This became more confusing when I wondered how a disabled person would fulfil their purpose but by virtue of their disability are unable to do so.

I was told in the bible, that among the many attributes of God, He is fair, and righteous. He would judge all men, young, old, rich or poor. How would He fairly judge a person who is incapacitated and unable to fulfil a talent or gift-based purpose? This falls short of the God I have grown to know.

All my life, I have received the answers to real life issues and questions from the bible. I studied the bible in depth and I discovered the foundational truth to the ‘Purpose for man’ and how vision fits into this ‘purpose’. The Book of Matthew 6:33(NKJV) first instructs:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”

I see this passage in two parts:

• Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – The purpose for life
• All these things shall be added to you – the visions and goals we make for ourselves

The Book of Luke 10: 27 (NKJV) explicitly gives us the law and how to perform the instruction to seek the kingdom of God. This law is not subject to each person’s interpretation and all men can and will be judged fairly on it. The commandment reads:

            “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbour as yourself.”

In the Book of Matthew 22:36-40 (CEV), Jesus refers to this as the most important commandment in the law and the second also is to love others as much as you love yourself. Further, Jesus clarifies that all the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments. It is not possible to fulfil your purpose here on earth without obeying this law.

Apostle Paul adds to this in Ephesians 3: 14-21 by explaining how we can seek the kingdom of God:

1. we have to acknowledge that we are created by God;
2. we need God’s strength to be able to observe the law as we are unable to do so with our human strength. We need spiritual empowerment;
3. we cannot have all the answers we need so we have to pray in faith that Christ will dwell in our hearts and;
4. the combined result of 1 + 2 + 3 = 4, which is being rooted and grounded in love.

I was amazed and felt liberated by this discovery. I found out that all I needed to fulfil my purpose for existence is to love God and my neighbour as myself. This is a universal requirement that can be met by all men. This understanding changed my life as I now have one purpose which remains the same year in year out.

However, my vision, which is not law, is dependent on how I manage my affairs. Vision is set by the individual and can be adjusted year in year as circumstances change. Knowing that vision is not law will remove fear and the burden of failure. Our purpose for existence is to observe the law which is love. Eternal life is the reward.

I pray you have the best year so far and I thank you and love you with the love of God.

EOMMA

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