What is My Purpose?
Romans 3:23 NKJV
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The concept of “sin” is often too easily applied, but also too easily mistaken. Sin, in the Biblical sense, is defined by concepts related to archer… missing the mark, or falling short. But, while we can more easily compare an arrow flying off course or falling just short of a target to sins of error or human weakness, we often fail to clearly understand the intended target for the arrow… the bullseye.
And that can be confusing. What is the bullseye? What goal do all Christians alike strive for? To this extent, let’s look at the classic catechism response to the Purpose of Man, according to Judeo-Christian beliefs.
According to Judeo-Christian beliefs, the primary purpose of human beings can be summarized as follows:
1. To love and serve God. This is considered the highest purpose, as expressed in commandments like "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength"[1][4].
2. To reveal God's goodness in the world. Humans are seen as created in God's image and called to express His nature through acts of love and goodness[2].
3. To love others. The second great commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself," emphasizing the importance of caring for other people[1][4].
4. To fulfill one's unique destiny. Each person is believed to have a specific calling or purpose that aligns with their individual gifts and circumstances[2].
5. To work toward non-self-interested love. This is described as the highest good humans can manifest and involves developing awareness of others' individuality[2].
6. To be reconciled with God. Christianity in particular emphasizes reconciliation between humanity and God as a key purpose[4].
7. To keep God's commandments as an expression of love for Him. Following divine laws and teachings is seen as a way to honor God[1].
8. To glorify God through one's life. Using one's talents and living in a way that brings honor to God is considered part of human purpose[4].
In essence, the Judeo-Christian view holds that humans were created to have a relationship with God, to represent His character on earth through loving actions toward others, and to fulfill a unique calling that contributes to God's purposes for the world. The ultimate aim is to grow in selfless love that reflects the divine nature.
Citations:
[1] https://judeochristianclarion.com/teaching-moments/judeo-christian-belief/
[2] https://www.judeochristianity.org/judeochristianity_principles.htm
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judeo-Christian
[4] https://mediate.com/the-three-major-characteristics-of-the-judeo-christian-model-of-peacemaking/
Comments