Meaning of life / source of comfort:

The bible as teaching on the meaning and purpose of life:

• Bible is the story of God’s plan to save humanity.

• Heilsgeschichte - salvation history

• God created people for a reason.

• Purpose of life is a close relationship with God.

• Humanity lost sight of God’s purpose at the fall.

• The bible is the story of the journey back to God.

Genesis 1:26-28

• “Then God said “let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness”; God blessed them and God said to them “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the aid and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

The bible as teaching on the meaning and purpose of life:

• There is more to life than physical pleasure.

• Life is for living and should be enjoyed.

• We should make the most of time on earth.

• Remember that spiritual matters should be our focus not material things.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-9

• “…Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has life ago approved what you do. Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head…”

The bible as a source of comfort and encouragement:

• Bible reflects universal struggles faced by humankind.

• Sin, temptation, suffering and poverty.

• Trust in God to help and give strength.

• God does not change.

• Provides courage and hope.

• Encourages fair treatment.

• Does not define people by wealth or possessions.

Psalm 46:1-3:

• “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters road and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”

Matthew 6:25

• “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Genesis 1:26-28 analysis:

• Genesis goes on to tell of the story of the fall, telling us that humanity lost sight of God’s purpose for their lives.

• The rest of the Old Testament tells of various ways in which God has encouraged humanity back into a close relationship with him.

• For example, through the great flood, He attempted a clean start with the most faithful few of his creation.

• Through the issuing of the Ten Commandments, He gave clear rules for humankind to follow, through the covenant made with Abraham, He made a special promise or commitment with humanity to maintain a close relationship, but human beings consistently went their own way.

• The Heilsgeschichte tells that in the New Testament, God provided Jesus, God incarnate, as the ultimate example, and sacrifice for sin, with the promise of completion at the Parousia.

• God’s plan for human life is made possible and realised through this action and the purpose of life is now found in the great commission by Christ to go out into the world and tell everyone about what Christ has done on the cross.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-9 analysis:

• The Bible repeatedly emphasises that there is more to life that material things.

• This is emphasised in the passage above from Ecclesiastes.

• However, this passage puts a positive spin on this message that if this is the one life God has given us, we should rejoice in it and enjoy it as God intended.

• This does not mean that humanity have free reign to do as they please, they are still encouraged to live pure lives, but also to make the most of what God has given them.

• In the New Testament, Jesus teaches a more cautious message against placing too much value on material items in life, instead focusing more on spiritual matters since that is our purpose or aim and keeping one’s mind more carefully focused upon God.

Matthew 6:19-21

• “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 analysis:

• Enjoying life is therefore not wrong but should be pursued in the context of a relationship with God since it is of lasting, infinite benefit to the person, rather than something that will come to an end.

   

As a source of comfort and encouragement:

• The Bible offers believers comfort and encouragement in the form of God.

• The psalms encourage the believer to trust God because not matter what happens in life, He is steadfast.

• When human beings struggle with sin, temptation, bereavement, poverty, conflict, or fear of death, they can all trust in God to give strength and help.

• Even the strongest people meet challenges, but they do not face them alone.

• Passages like these tell believers that despite these problems that all human beings can identify with and face, God’s love for them does not change.

• This is reassuring, not only because God is on hand, but because these struggles are faced by everyone, even Jesus who experienced temptation, bereavement, poverty, conflict, suffering and death.

Matthew 6:25 analysis:

• The book of Matthew emphasises that there is more to life than temporary, material things.

• This is a comfort to people as the struggle with poverty or when things are lost stolen or broken.

• It is also an encouragement to handle suffering with courage and to treat the poor equally, since people are not defined by their belongings.

• Death isn’t the end and there is hope for the future.

• Those who face such struggles need not worry that this is all there is. Instead, it gives hope for the future with God.