Philippians 3:7-11

What Is The Purpose Of Life?

A Question Of Meaning

Our culture is obsessed with finding meaning in two major ways: sports and politics. When our team wins or loses (in sports and politics), we either gloat or get cranky. When our team wins (again, in sports and politics), we think that all is right in the world. When our team loses (sports and politics), we think the world is ending.

In the sports arena, I had a realization in 2011. The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship for the first (and only) time in franchise history. I had been a Mavs fan since moving to Texas in 1997. I had watched playoff disappointment after playoff disappointment. Every May or June, I’d be cranky and upset that the Mavs lost. But then in June 2011, they won it all. And that’s when I realized. I’m less excited that they won, than I was upset when they lost. I had less pleasure when winning, than I had anguish when losing. The highs and lows of fandom became a little less extreme starting the next year. (For basketball… at least. Baseball, on the other hand, I am a work in progress.)

In what do you find purpose? What gives your life meaning? For some, it’s sports or politics. For others, it’s your job, your family, or your friends. And for others, it’s belonging to a certain church or denomination. Philippians 3:10 tells us what is supposed to give our life meaning: knowing Jesus and his resurrection and sharing in Jesus’ suffering. Jesus is supposed to define you. Everything else in our life is worthless compared to knowing Jesus and living life with him. In Him, we find our purpose and meaning.