The Purpose of Life

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.

The work of life is to develop it.

The meaning of life is to give your gift away.

  “Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations” by David Viscott 1993

            What is the meaning of life? People have pondered, puzzled and prayed in search of the answer. Some think they must climb a mountain to find a “wise man” with the answer. Others just wander aimlessly, clueless of the truth. The truly wise are content in its fulfillment.

            When I ran across the above quote some time ago, it helped me to understand. There is more to your purpose that just a simple answer. Yet, I like how Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 sums it up.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (KJV)

But how does one fulfill his or her duty/purpose? First, you must discover your gift(s). I intimate gifts, because I think that most people have more than one. As a Left Hand Man (see August 2012 if you are still confused) my main gift is helping wherever, whenever at whatever I can. I can do only a few things excellently, but I can do many things well. My oldest son remarked recently, “Ask my dad. He can fix almost anything”. An overstatement to be sure, but 30 years of being on a Christian school teacher’s salary with 5 children has a way of bringing out the MacGyver in a guy.

I do try to continually learn and find out how things work. Some of this is self-driven; some has been thrust upon me. Nevertheless, it is all part of my Left Hand personality. Instead of being frustrated by being the “plug in” guy, I have embraced it and tried to nurture it. Now it has even become more of a game; what new thing are we going to learn today?

The secret is continually learning.  Read, study, take things apart, ask questions. I also  recommend that you keep a notebook of charts, diagrams, ideas, and solutions. Realistically, the brain can one hold so much. To me, there is no worse feeling than to know you have done something before, but now cannot remember how you did it. Write it down!

           What gives heart to all of your talent is helping those who cannot help you back. I have been given so much valuable information along the way, most of it given freely. The older I get, the more material things begin to lose their allure. Now don’t get me wrong. Would I like a new fishing boat? Yes! Yes I would. Do I need a new fishing boat? Probably not. In fact I get along pretty well without it. (Being able to fix things can come in very handy.) Besides, then I would need a truck for transport, and also a place to store it. Then there is the upkeep. Eventually it can get out of hand. Somehow, I find it more fun to help people rather than charge them. If they insist on paying something, I don’t mind, but it is not my main goal. In these almost 58 years, God has never failed to meet my needs. I try to remember that as a human, I owe an unpayable debt. I have found that if you live your life as debtor to Christ, giving away your talent is not hard at all. There is always someone giving back. Certainly, you should work hard at your job and take care of your family. But do not forget to share your talents with those around you. The sowing and reaping principle is impossible to hide from. You will never out give God.