Pablo Picasso was thought by many to be just another eccentric artist. He was a self-declared atheist and not really known as a philosopher, but he is credited for saying this, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Even as a non-believer, Picasso was not to far off from what the Apostle Peter said in one of his letters.
He said, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4:10)
Finding meaning or purpose in life is a common pursuit. Some may have given up on finding it, but finding our purpose in life is possible. It is when we see God’s Plan as our Purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 says this, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
It should give us all comfort just to know that God has a plan for us. But it is even more comforting and even exciting that His plan is prosperity and a hopeful future. The key then for finding purpose is to find His plan. Or maybe better yet, surrender to His plan for our lives.
The Pew Research Center did a survey trying to determine what brings meaning and purpose in a person’s life. It became clear that activities were the main source of fulfillment. Not one person mentioned God or even spiritual things at all. At the top of the list were occupation and career, hobbies, travel and new experiences, and education. Civic engagement made the list but even service can miss the mark in bringing fulfillment without doing it as unto the Lord.
It was no surprise to see work at the top of the list. Many of those we serve at our two shelters believe that finding a job and making lots of money will bring purpose. That’s a pretty common belief.
But for a Christian, our meaning and purpose is connected to so much more. It’s in discovering God’s plan and the Spiritual Gifts He has given us and using them to love God and people. Didn’t Jesus say that’s the greatest of all the commandments.
Like the song says, “Gotta keep it real simple, bring everything back to ground zero, cause it all comes down to this, Love God and love people. That’s God’s plan and that’s our purpose.
