Why was I ever born?

Why was I ever born?  Many people throughout human history have asked that very question. Some feel like every turn in life brings more trouble.  Lot’s go through things so traumatic they want to throw their hands up in the air and give up.  They are asking the very same thing the prophet Jeremiah asked many years ago (Jeremiah 20:18, NLT), “Why was I ever born?  My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.”  Have you asked why you were born?  Is life throwing you the proverbial curve ball of trouble and pain around every corner?

There is nothing we can do to get rid of the circumstances this world throws our way.  There are things that happen that simply do not make sense.  There are many pitfalls that lead us down the path of wondering why we were ever born; however, there is a major pitfall that remains a blind spot in most peoples lives.  This major pitfall is that “Culture Strives after Success.”  No one wants to be a failure, so on the surface success sounds like a valiant goal. 

We have become so 
success oriented that we even give participation trophies to kids.  I have achieved something; even to the point that I have achieved participating!  We strive so much for success that we over extend ourselves financially to buy a vehicle/house out of our price range.  Striving after success inevitably leads people down Gloom Street, onto the exit of Despair, and finally screaming onto Agony Parkway. If you are not satisfied with life and know why you were born before you win that game, get that promotion, get that trophy, or get that new car/boat/house/toy, then you won’t be satisfied and know after you receive them either.

So what is the alternative for success?  It is significance!  Stop striving after success and become significant.  Success at its core is inward/me focused while significance is outward/others focused.  Jesus lived a life of significance. The world looks to the cross and sees failure, but he longed for significance.  Jesus changed everything about life on earth through significance.  Most successes in life are quickly forgotten and prove to have little lasting meaning.  Significance lasts. 

Three things to help you move from striving after success to being significant:

1.         Love (1 Corinthians 13): Love is not a mere emotion of how I feel on the inside, but an outward direction of will.  Love asks, “How can I help and serve you?”

2.         Generosity (Luke 6:38): There are many things you can give to be significant to someone such as time, talents, money, friendship, food, forgiveness, a listening ear, and you fill in the blank.  When you are hurting and feeling down, decide to be significant towards someone else.  Be generous to someone else in great need.

3.         God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:33): The truest meaning of life can only be found when we look for it through the Creator Himself.  So seek him through reading and following the Bible, through prayer, through worship with other believers regularly in church, and serving others. 

Most will continue striving after success and many will find it, but they will still be left wondering why they were ever born.  Choose to be significant and see how you view life differently.  You can see life through the eyes of Jesus.  When life knocks you down, and it will; get up and be significant in someone else’s life!

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad

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