THE GIFT OF LIFE. An immeasurable treasure of God to Man.

So this poses the question what is the real purpose and meaning of life? Is it to make a lot of money and be successful? Is it to marry and raise a family? Is it to obtain lots of material possessions – nice car, house, boat, motorcycle, etc? Is it to make lots of friends, be popular and socialize? Come home, eat dinner, watch TV, and go to bed? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But is that all? Is there no greater meaning or purpose to this amazing gift of life? For some, maybe these sources of meaning and purpose are enough—even if most of the time, they don’t quite fulfill.

Why? Because there is something very deep within us that says there is more to life than any of these, that there is something very great and meaningful that we are here for. But what is that purpose?

Sigmund Freud said it bluntly, and he was probably right: “… only religion can answer the question of the purpose of life. One can hardly be wrong in concluding that the idea of life having a purpose [at all] stands and falls with the religious system”.[8] Yes, Freud answers our question: Religion.

Corinthians promises us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”[9]

So, indeed, God has a purpose and we have been created as part of that purpose and for a purpose. And Jesus tells us what that purpose is – to love and serve God, and to love and serve others – and it’s repeated three times in the Scriptures (Matt 22:36, Mark 12:29, Luke 10:25). It’s really so very, very simple. When we are fulfilling that purpose, then that place deep down inside of us fills up and we experience peace and happiness. When we’re not, and we begin focusing on our own self and our own needs exclusively, then other emotions start flooding in.

There is little question that religious seems to be involve in (i.e., loving and serving God) is related to greater purpose and meaning. During our systematic review of the research literature, we located 45 quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Of those, 42 (93 percent) found that those who were more religious experienced significantly greater purpose and meaning in life, and of the studies with the best research designs, 100 percent reported this finding – every single one[10].

What about loving and serving others? If done in response to Jesus’ directive and as part of loving and serving God, the same applies. Volunteering or otherwise being generous with one’s time and resources to help those in need is one of the most powerful sources of meaning and purpose, and is also tremendously fulfilling (again, if done as an expression of our love for God and as a service to Him, not for appreciation or thanks from the one being served). The scripture is indeed true – all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Not some things, but all things.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it this way: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. That is to have succeeded.” He also wrote the following “If you love and serve men, you cannot by any hiding or escape the remuneration. [11]

Conclusion:   Life is indeed an essential gift of God to man and in the words of Jose Maria Ecriva; it is the source of all things, as being created in the image and likeness of God( Imago dei), it is crucial to know that life is Christ, who offers us an opportunity to have, not just having  it but having it in abundance, “ Abide in me and I in you”.[12]. It is sine qua non to know that to love and serve God, and love and serve others – are what produces real purpose and meaning of life. It is a universal truth that we cannot escape from.

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