What's the meaning of life?

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person.14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Originally posted by ghoti
I know this is such a redundant and vain question since I'm never satisfied with the answer, but what IS the meaning of life? In other words, if I were to ask why should I live, how would you respond? I suppose the Christian answer would be something along the lines of to save souls and to worship God. But that doesn't satisfy me. What makes life better than nonexistance? What purpose is there?  Or is there none?

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I've been struggling with that one for a while now...

Originally posted by ghoti
 

I beg to differ.  Real love is painful and self-sacrificing.  I'm sure many of you can quote 1 Cor. 13 the love chapter.  All those verses are about giving of yourself.  Love is an action, a lifestyle, a way to live.  And it all includes giving of yourself for others.  Being loved is wonderful, but loving is painful.

 

Yes, Amy, I am a Christian.

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Real Love as "painful", well that really all depends, but in as someone else has already said in the end "all is well". I understand what you mean by love is painful...and I can also relate that to a biblical reference.  Jesus himself! What love he had! For you and me! That he suffered so...horrible for a wretch like me.  THAT my friend is total devotion in love. (Thank you Jesus)  Also, the love that you are most likely referring to (and forgive me if I am wrong) is that between a man and woman? I understand what you are saying here also.  But...I feel more so...that its sounding like You are the one doing all the "loving" with no return. (hence your pain) *and I know exactly what u mean there too...*  Well I'll tell you this...you can love BETTER than you can hurt.  And I'm not denouncing or even challenging the fact that you love, just "know" that it is love by making sure it meets "loves" guidelines as being "love" (hope that made sense)...but how often is love returned anyway? You walk outside, you give love to your neighbors your friends, those you don't know, people you make contact with, and even your enemies...now...more times than not...your kindness and love etc is not always returned (more often not than so) And the bible also said that mens hearts will grow cold anyway...some of these things are expected, but in the End...Everything is alright.
Jesus ended up saving the entire human population that would give their hearts, minds, soul, and spirit to him and commit to his ways.
That is a HUGE accomplishment by the motivation of love don't you think?

 

Concerning the reason of life, well...in the begenning their was nothing...but the word...and the word was God...and yes... the of the word of truth you most likely know also.  We were created for fellowship with God and for God's enjoyment.  No matter how much life gets us involved and committed to "ourselves"  it is not about us at all. EVERYTHING is about God.  You put him first and seek his kingdom...all the other things you need/want shall be given.  We are here for his glorification (he is already perfect) and to exalt his name and to praise him.  If one asks me...I think the meaning of life is perhaps summed up in Genesis.

Perhaps the meaning of life differs to everyone. Maybe it is what life means to you.

by luckiecharms
Perhaps the meaning of life differs to everyone. Maybe it is what life means to you.

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No it isn't. You have misunderstood the question.

There are really 2 meanings of life, read on.
Let us examine the question "What is the meaning of life?"
It is obvious from the question that there is some reason we were created, or for the atheists: That we simply are here. "Why are we here?" is the same question, I must have been put here to do something? Now here is my little theory:

God is real, the definition of God is that nothing is impossible to him, ergo he can have anything he wants. So what fun is a rollercoaster if you can ride it infinately number of times, how good does a burger taste if you can make a food taste infinately better and eat it forever, and even make a sense we (humans) havent imagined, sex would be a bore in comparison.

So if you are God, what are you going to do? Give another being life and give it the free will to choose you (God). For God, nothing can be greater than us freely submitting and worshipping him. If course he is God and he could make us, but that wouldn't be great for him.

So the meaning of life is to choose God! That is what God means for us to do. "But I'm a christian and I've already chosen him. Why don't I just kill myself and live with him in heaven because earth is full of evil and I hate it" Sure you could say that (I did) but God doesn't want that. Why? Because if you did off yourself nobody would be saved from you, you would lead none to salvation. So the second meaning of life (it applies to those that are saved) is to lead others to salvation; by being a good example, by preaching or whatever.

So if you go by my theory God created us for his own sake, yes. At least that is what I believe. Who else would he create us for? He was first, last and all-powerful. But luckily for us he is a good God, loving and merciful, but also fair!

BTW, this theory also answears why he hasn't ended all evil, why he hasn't revealed himself (physically) to everybody and why we were created.

If the thruth does not "do it" for you Ghoti, that is fine. Because what "does it" for God is what matters, and that is us freely choosing him.

The meaning of life is to continue life. To make more life and never take away life. Life is the most precious thing in the universe. That's what I believe. Bring new life into the world and help everyone you can.

GateKeeper
The meaning of life is to continue life

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Seems very philosophical and deep, but when you think about it, it isn't very logical is it? I mean:
We are here so that we can continue being here. The reason we were put here is that we should stay here.

What would that accomplish? What is the meaning of that? You see, your answear does not answear the question.
Like many say the answear is "to have fun", "to love". Those are nice guidelines, but have nothing to do with the question.

Edit:typo

The meaning of life is to wake up each morning and thank God for the next breath. It is the relationships we for with one another. The meaning of life can be seen in a rainbow, in the sunrise, or in the sunset. God has created a masterpiece, and he created us to share in that masterpiece. I have come close to death and I tell you life or even the promise of life is far better than non-existence, or the promise of non-existence. Is life easy? NO! By all means no! But life in itself is the greatest gift that we have been given and if we do not take advantage of this gift, we have wasted everything that was given to us! Life is a gift and the meaning of it is to live!

A God Chaser,
Jess