What is the reason men exist?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”
Ecclesiastes 9:13
The weak in the Church think that faith is never questioned. In reality we are always wondering about and questioning our faith. The only people arrogant enough to think they have everything figured out are the atheists. Questions about the faith will inevitably lead many to ask questions about the purpose of life. Here is an oversimplified definition of existentialism: Asking questions to try to discover why it is that we exist. It is not immoral or irreverent to ask such questions.
Hard Truth: Even if we think the answers about life are given in the Bible, that still does not mean the answers are satisfying.
God did not tell us to be happy about His commands, many of them are difficult and restrictive. Reject the idea that Christianity is some fun thing you get to do. No. It is difficult. Part of Christianity is the constant psychological warfare between you and your doubts.
We will be forced to think about our faith and our life in ways we never anticipated. We will have to ask the dark, deep seated questions of our mind to attempt to try to find some justification for the evil we experience. Even the extremely righteous man Job was forced to question his life, and he regretted being born (Job 3). Given his situation, who wouldn’t?
Solomon diligently sought life’s purpose, which is the point of the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon pursues everything he thinks might give him meaning in life. He chased sex, wealth and alcohol like most men. He chased food and enjoyment. Then e eventually comes to the conclusion that the only reason we are on earth is to fear God and keep His commandments. Again, that may not satisfy your longing inside, but it doesn’t have to. Chasing any kind of satisfaction on earth is moronic.
Men question why we exist and the meaning of life. I provide a new question: Why does life need a meaning?
Man always wants there to be “something more”, something to give meaning to the abyss of life. Because we think surely there must be something beyond this pit of pain known as life? That is the hope, but it cannot be objectively proven. This is why it is “hope and faith” rather than “reason and fact”.
The question of the meaning of life is one that will last a lifetime, whether you have faith or not. It is not a weakness of faith to wonder why we exist even if the Bible tells us we exist for God (Proverbs 16:4). That answer will not satisfy every mind. But satisfaction of the mind does not matter. The answer to the question of why we exist does not matter. All that matters is that we do what is right.
Mantra
Action matters more than purpose.
Application
This is a very difficult section. No one wants to hear that there may not be a purpose to life. But what is purpose other than another emotion? It is a feeling of traveling towards something that is worthwhile. You can feel purpose while chasing an oasis in the desert only to find that it was a mirage.
Do not deify the idea of purpose, because even though you may feel purposed at times, it will not always be there. Most days you will have to keep working without any of the emotional backing of purpose.
This is what you must do as a man.
Sure, you can acquire purpose in a wife and family, or you can train your mind to find purpose in faith. But like any other emotions, purpose will not continue indefinitely. This is why it is of the utmost importance to train yourself to not require those emotional boosts in every single discipline you take up for yourself. Action will always be more important than anything else. What you do matters infinitely more than how you feel. So pick yourself up. Focus your mind. Grind out the days. Be a Man.
Conduct Yourselves Like Men.
