Question 1

Why does life sometimes seem to lack meaning?

Accepted Answer

Job 9:22“Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’”Ecclesiastes 3:19-20People and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust.Ecclesiastes 9:2The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, . . . religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.If we believe there is nothing beyond this life, the inevitability of death can make life seem meaningless.Psalm 103:14-16He [the Lord] knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here.Ecclesiastes 1:11We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.Ecclesiastes 2:16The wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.Ecclesiastes 9:5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.Knowing the dead are often forgotten can make our own accomplishments feel meaningless.Job 7:6-7“My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope. O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.”Job 14:1-2“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear.”Psalm 39:4-5“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”Psalm 89:47Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!Ecclesiastes 6:12In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?Isaiah 40:6-7A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people.”James 4:14How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.Life is short no matter how long we live. And the brevity of life can make it seem meaningless.Ecclesiastes 4:16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.The fleeting nature of worldly success can make life seem meaningless.Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.Basing our actions on trivial or selfish motives can make life seem meaningless. We should keep our goals high but our motives pure.Ecclesiastes 5:10Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!Centering our lives on money and possessions leads to a sense of meaninglessness. Wanting more is an endless cycle.Psalm 73:3-4, 12-13I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. . . . Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?Ecclesiastes 8:14This is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!If we believe this life is all there is, the injustices of this world can make life seem meaningless because, for many, justice is never served.

Question 2

What can bring ultimate meaning to my life?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:26Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”Isaiah 43:7“Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.”Romans 11:36Everything comes from him [God] and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.God, our Creator, gives us value. We are made in his image, and his very breath gives us life.Ezekiel 29:21“And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive, and then, Ezekiel, your words will be respected. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”Micah 6:8No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.John 4:13-14Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”John 10:10“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”John 15:5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”Philippians 3:7-9I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.Revelation 3:20“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”We are created to know God and enjoy fellowship with him. Without God, our lives are dry and empty. With him, we can be filled with love and joy. Nothing could be more meaningful than a close relationship with God, our Creator.Psalm 8:3-8When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.God has given humans the highest place in creation and the great responsibility of managing and caring for his creation. This is a meaningful purpose and a high honor.Matthew 4:19Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”2 Corinthians 3:2The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.2 Corinthians 5:18All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.God calls us to the meaningful task of participating in his work in the world and pointing others to him.John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 5:24“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”John 11:25-26Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”1 Corinthians 15:19-20If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.The fact that death is not the end for Jesus’ followers invests our lives with eternal significance. Knowing that we have life after death gives us true perspective for everything we experience in this life.Psalm 16:11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.John 6:27“But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”Romans 8:29God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.Ephesians 1:11-12Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.Philippians 1:9-10I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.Having a relationship with God is our ultimate purpose in life. But loving him is not limited to our feelings or even to our worship. Love leads us to action (John 14:15) and leads us to love others. This is something we must live out. Imitating Christ and becoming more like him is the most important way we are called to do this. Leading others to faith in God and teaching them about him is another important way. Our more specific, individual ways of living that out our love for God are things he reveals to us as we come to know him more.Psalm 40:8“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”Psalm 138:8The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.Ecclesiastes 12:13That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.2 Corinthians 5:9So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.1 Thessalonians 2:4We speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.2 Timothy 2:21If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.Pleasing God by loving him, obeying him, and doing his will gives meaning to our lives by preparing us to be used to accomplish God’s purposes.Matthew 28:19-20“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Luke 24:47“It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’”Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 20:24“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”Of all the meaningful work on earth, nothing is more meaningful than sharing God and his Good News with others.Romans 8:29God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.Ephesians 5:1-2Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.1 Peter 1:3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation.1 Peter 2:21God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.1 John 2:6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.God intends for us to become more and more like Jesus. This leads to the fulfillment of sharing Christ’s joy, goodness, and glory in eternity.Psalm 96:12-13Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.Revelation 21:3-4I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”Our lives have meaning as we live for God because although evil and injustice often seem to have the upper hand, God will get the last word and he will right every wrong in the end.John 20:21Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”We are called to continue Christ’s mission in the world. This gives our lives meaning and purpose.Matthew 25:23“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”Our lives have meaning because we have the opportunity to live in a way so that we will receive Jesus’ words of commendation.Matthew 22:37-39Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”1 Corinthians 13:1-3If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.1 John 4:7-8Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.Loving others in Jesus’ name give our lives meaning. If we believe all the right things and accomplish great deeds in God’s name but do not love him or others, then our efforts are meaningless.Ephesians 1:5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.God’s purpose for us is to be his children and to live in the complete security of his love at every moment.

Question 3

Why do even our important achievements often seem empty?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 39:6We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.Psalm 127:2It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.Ecclesiastes 1:14I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.Ecclesiastes 2:10-23Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. . . . So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. . . . I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.Habakkuk 2:13Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!James 1:11The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.Our human effort can feel meaningless without knowing anything of our work’s lasting and eternal value.Psalm 94:11The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!Romans 1:21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.1 Corinthians 3:19-20The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”Ephesians 4:17-18With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.Human knowledge, wisdom, and work will feel meaningless without an eternal perspective. If our thoughts help grow our relationship with God, and benefit other people, we will feel a sense of deep purpose and fulfillment.Isaiah 16:6We have heard about proud Moab—about its pride and arrogance and rage. But all that boasting has disappeared.Jeremiah 48:29-30“We have all heard of the pride of Moab, for his pride is very great. We know of his lofty pride, his arrogance, and his haughty heart. I know about his insolence,” says the Lord, “but his boasts are empty—as empty as his deeds.”Luke 1:51-52“His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.”Human desires that focus on the self, like pride, greed, and selfishness, are meaningless and lead to nothing.Psalm 60:11Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless.Psalm 146:3-4Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.Isaiah 2:22Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?Isaiah 30:1-5“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced. For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”Isaiah 47:8“Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children.’”Jeremiah 17:5This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.”Lamentations 4:17We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.It is meaningless to rely on human power rather than God’s power.

Question 4

When is religion meaningless?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 12:21“Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!”2 Kings 17:15They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.Psalm 31:6I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord.Isaiah 16:12The people of Moab will worship at their pagan shrines, but it will do them no good. They will cry to the gods in their temples, but no one will be able to save them.Isaiah 44:9How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.Jeremiah 2:5, 11This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. . . . Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!”Jeremiah 10:5, 8, 14-15“Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” . . . People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood! . . . The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.If religion involves worshiping anyone or anything other than the one, true, living God, it is meaningless. Nothing can take the place of God.Isaiah 8:19-22Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.Ezekiel 13:6-9“Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies! Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ when I have not even spoken to you? “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because what you say is false and your visions are a lie, I will stand against you, says the Sovereign Lord. I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions, and they will be banished from the community of Israel. I will blot their names from Israel’s record books, and they will never again set foot in their own land. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”Zechariah 10:2Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd.It is meaningless to try to know the future without seeking the God who controls the future.Isaiah 1:13“Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.”Jeremiah 6:20“There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba. Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands! I will not accept your burnt offerings. Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”Hosea 8:13“The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt.”Amos 4:4-5“Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel. Keep on disobeying at Gilgal. Offer sacrifices each morning, and bring your tithes every three days. Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving. Then give your extra voluntary offerings so you can brag about it everywhere! This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do,” says the Sovereign Lord.”Malachi 1:10“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.”Matthew 15:8-9“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”Matthew 23:23-24“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!”James 1:26-27If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.Religious observances or rituals offered without true faith or love for God are meaningless. They are only superstitious and bad habits.Isaiah 1:15-17“When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”Matthew 6:7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.”Luke 18:9-14Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”Prayer without honesty and humility is meaningless. The prayer itself is not what gets God’s attention but the condition of the heart and the attitude behind it.1 Timothy 1:6Some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.2 Timothy 2:14Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.Titus 3:9Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.Religious language or talk can be meaningless. Arguing over who is right can distract us from doing what is right. While some issues are worth debating and considering thoroughly, arguing for the sake of appearing smart and spiritual only hurts the community of believers.Lamentations 2:14Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope.Matthew 5:19“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”Ephesians 5:6Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.Colossians 2:18Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud.2 Peter 2:18They [false teachers] brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.Religious teachings can be meaningless if they only come from human ideas. Some false teachers try to impress followers with “secret knowledge”; others create rigorous rules to impress with “holiness”; still others tell followers what they want to hear, leading them into sin and self-indulgence. None of this religion offers us the truth and meaning that we need to grow.John 15:5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”1 Corinthians 3:12-15Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.Christian service done without the presence and power of Christ is meaningless because we have forgotten the one we are serving.Matthew 7:26-27“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”Matthew 13:19-22“The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”Hebrews 4:2This good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.James 1:22-24Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.James 2:20How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?We may know a lot about God’s Word, but if we don’t apply it to our lives, we miss the point. We cannot have a meaningful life of faith if we ignore the instructions of the one who created us.

Question 5

How can I understand more fully the meaning of my life?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 2:2-3Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.Proverbs 4:7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.Understanding the deep truths of life doesn’t just happen. We have to search for them. We won’t stumble on to insight, understanding, and wisdom. We find them only when we pursue God. He is the source of all wisdom and understanding, and he delights in giving good gifts to his children.Psalm 111:10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.We increase in understanding as we actively trust and obey the Lord. Wisdom is one of the rewards for trust and obedience.Psalm 119:104Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.Studying the Bible will provide greater insight into life’s meaning and guard us from being deceived by harmful lies and empty promises.Psalm 57:2I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.Philippians 1:4-6Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.When we pray, we can ask God to reveal his truth to us and fulfill his purpose in us. God will use us for his purposes if we give ourselves to him completely.

Question 6

What is meaningless and futile?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 23:4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.Psalm 127:1-2Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Proverbs 16:9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.Matthew 6:25-27“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”James 4:13-15Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”To boast or worry about our plans for our lives is meaningless. Sometimes, we grow attached to a certain idea of what our service to God should look like, or even what blessings we deserve. Then we plan, work, and worry to make everything happen like we want it to. Though working hard is good, working for our own glory rather than God’s will lead to failure. On the other hand, if we are working as God called us, we shouldn’t be alarmed even by apparent failure. Ultimately, God will lead us where we need to go and provide for us along the way. All we need to do is learn to follow our Good Shepherd.Mark 8:36“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”Life without God is meaningless because it leads to eternity without God.Psalm 76:5-8Our boldest enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us. At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still. No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you.Isaiah 41:11“See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing.”Jeremiah 50:24“Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you. You are caught, for you have fought against the Lord.”Nahum 1:11Who is this wicked counselor of yours who plots evil against the Lord?Fighting against God is meaningless, for we cannot win such a battle; and in the end, we wouldn’t want to win it.Psalm 112:10The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.Psalm 119:118You have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.Proverbs 10:28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.Proverbs 11:7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.Jeremiah 13:10“These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing!”Jeremiah 51:58This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground, and her massive gates will be burned. The builders from many lands have worked in vain, for their work will be destroyed by fire!”Ephesians 5:11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.A life of sin is meaningless. If not forgiven, it will lead to an eternity of bitterness, despair, and loneliness apart from God.Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 20, 23I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. . . . Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. . . . So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. . . . Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.Ecclesiastes 5:7Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.Ecclesiastes 6:9Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.The primary pursuits of pleasure, work, intelligence, wealth, technology, indulgence, and success are all ultimately meaningless if God is not in them.

Meaning/Meaningless