Do you know what ‘a meaningful life’ is, means? Do you have your definition so that when ‘life’ happens, you recognize whether or not it’s part of your definition? At the end of the day as you are lying down and putting your head onto the pillow – what are your thoughts? Are you ‘happy’ with your day? Did you spend time with the Lord and felt renewed and refreshed in the process… perhaps I should ask if you’ve made time for the Lord? Is there a sense of peace and satisfaction?
When you consider ‘meaningful’ is it the big things you’ve accomplished? Did you have a set number of these or is one sufficient? Do rest on your laurels and point to this as your statement about being meaningful? By the way… who defined ‘big’ for you? You? And… I don’t remember reading anything about retirement. Did I miss it? If it exists – can you point me to the confirming verses?
It’s true that ‘meaningful’ is individually defined but sometimes we haven’t taken the time to do our defining. And if we don’t… how will we recognize it? I also tend to think that when we have done something meaningful, we typically recognize it (if we even recognize it) after the fact. And if we, in considering either/both our words and actions, we consider it no big thing – does meaningful always have to be a ‘big’ thing?
Let me share: https://applygodsword.com/how-can-you-live-a-meaningful-life/#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20you%20will%20not,22%3A37%2D39).
[I will indicate the most important]
“1. You Need a Personal Relationship With God
We need an ongoing and growing relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without connecting with God in a personal and intimate way every day of your life, you will be missing out on the joy available to you. … But without Christ you will not have a meaningful life read again what Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13″
2. You Need to Love and Be Loved By People
… God himself still said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” This statement by God was not just about the relationship between a husband and wife. No, it was a bigger proclamation about the need for human community in general. …In short, you will not have a meaningful life if you do not receive love from others and if you do not give love to others. (Matthew 22:37-39). Whenever God speaks of loving him he almost always reminds us that we must also love His people. … The church needs God, but the church also needs each other.
3. You Need to Know Your Purpose
Meaning and purpose are very similar words. But to me “meaning” has more to do with our personal feelings and “purpose” has more to do with the designer’s intent. In other words, you will not feel like you are living a meaningful life unless you live your life with the specific purpose that God designed you to have….But what does the Bible say? Why did God really create us? What is our ultimate purpose? According to Scripture, we really do have one ultimate purpose, and our purpose is to glorify God. God created us to glorify him. Isaiah 43:7 … and why in 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
4. You Need Personal Passion Projects that Serve People and Glorify God
Here we culminate everything we discussed into personal expressions. The above three points are true of every human ever created. Without God, without people, and without purpose, you will not live a meaningful life.
While God has created all people the same in some senses, he has also created each of us uniquely different as well. In other words, the way we love God, the way we interact with people, and the way we accomplish our purpose to glorify God should be uniquely expressed through our individual, God-given personalities. …In Romans 12:4-6 Paul teaches: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them . . . .”
These passion projects need three elements: They need to be enjoyable to you, they need to be helpful to other people, and they need to be done for the glory of God. So if you want to live a meaningful life, you must always have passion projects going on in your life.”
I couldn’t have said this better. Bottom line: I’d like to point out that many times this is defined in the little things, your actions or words that touched someone else – that cup of water. But whether ‘big’ or ‘small’ the point is meaningful is defined in terms of relationship(s). Meaningful really can’t be if you isolate yourself from life and all its joys and pains,
