A Life of Purpose and Meaning

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”

Genesis 17:1-2

In the opening verses of Genesis chapter seventeen, God extends to Abraham a stunning offer of redemption: to restore lost intimacy, integrity, and influence. Yesterday, we talked about how God invited Abraham to a new life of intimacy and a new life of integrity.

Finally, God invites Abraham to a life of influence, a life of purpose and meaning. Let us recall that like Adam and Eve, Abraham was not only created for relationship, but with work in mind. As an image-bearer, Abraham was created and called by God to make a contribution in the world. Through the work of his hands, Abraham was to exercise dominion or influence within the created order.

Created in God’s image we, too, are designed with work in mind. It is largely in and through our work that we make a contribution to the common good, find a great deal of meaning in our daily lives as well as leave a footprint of influence in the world. Each one of us wants to make a difference in the world. We all want our lives to really matter. That’s because we were created to matter.

In Genesis 17, God invites Abraham back to the Garden of Eden, promising Abraham a fruitful life. God tells Abraham that his life and work will be amazingly fruitful, so much so that all the nations will be blessed through Abraham.

One of the main aspects of the fruitful life God had in mind for Abraham and for each one of us is a life of productivity. In and through our work, we cultivate blessings from the created order, love our neighbor, and serve the common good.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What would you consider to be your current work? How are you currently serving your neighbors and the common good in your work? What are your hopes for the future?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you created us to matter, both in who we are made to be and what we are made to do. Through the transforming power of the Gospel and the filling of the Holy Spirit, help us to be fruitful and faithful stewards of the work you have called us to do in the world. Lord Jesus, accept the daily contribution you have graced us to make through the work of our hands to love our neighbor and serve the common good. May it be a pleasing offering of worship to you. Amen.

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Jubilee: Everything Matters

For the past seven years, The High Calling has supported the Jubilee Conference, an annual gathering of thousands of college students learning how to worship God with their whole lives. Whether a person is interested in engineering and science or art and music, law and politics or medicine and mission, justice and families or college life and the years to come, Jubilee has someone speaking about what it means to be involved in those places faithfully. This week, The High Calling offers a special collection of articles, videos, and reflections to serve the students and campus ministers who attended Jubilee. Join the Jubilee and learn how to worship God with your whole life.

Featured image by Cindee Snider Re. Used with Permission. Source via Flickr.