Everything Makes Sense with God - Ben Bailey
Everything Makes Sense with God
In his book Desiring God, John Piper said, “The proper understanding of everything in life begins with God.” How do we make sense of this short, temporary existence on this terrestrial ball? What does it all matter anyway? We are only going to be here a while, and in a few years it will all be over, right? It only makes sense if everything in life begins with God! Notice two ways this impacts my everyday life.
God is My Life. In a dark and dreary book, the wise sage tried everything to find the proper understanding. He focused on building projects. He fulfilled every pleasure he desired. He planted gardens and flower beds. He acquired treasure and had many servants at his beckon command. He put his attention on music and the arts, as well as the lust of the flesh. How do you think all that worked out for him? Listen to his own words: “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Eccl. 2:10-11). That is a little bit shocking and so counter to what the world would have us believe today. Imagine all the money, time and effort Solomon put into these ventures! And his final analysis of it all was it was a worthless waste of time. Why? Because Solomon had not yet learned that life only makes sense with God. He would later realize this and say, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13).
God is My Glory. If life only makes sense when we put God in the proper place, what does that change about my life. It causes us to recalibrate around a different and selfless purpose in life. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isa. 43:7). Everything I do now, I do it to God’s glory and not my own selfish interest. My Job—an opportunity to Glorify God. My recreation—I am looking for opportunities to magnify the name of God. My home life—It is one of my greatest ways to glorify and magnify the name of God. What we really need to learn is everything in life, even the trivial things, are about glorifying God. That is why I am here! Paul said this to the Corinthians in these words, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
Does your life have the meaning and purpose you so desperately long for it to have? The real question we need to ask is, “Is God my purpose and my glory?” May each of us be encouraged to think about why were here and make sure we realize that everything begins with and only makes sense when God is the center of our life