‘Cracked open a fortune cookie not long ago and discovered this bit of wisdom:
“It’s not the years in your life,
but the life in your years
that counts.”
Come to find out, that’s not from Confucius or any other Chinese sage. It’s from a beloved, former U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln.
Many folks might interpret this proverb to mean:
Live each day to the fullest; a full life is a meaningful life.
But what brings fullness to the day? And what makes a life meaningful?
The answers to those questions lie in another collection of proverbs, not found in fortune cookies, but in the Bible:
- A meaningful life comes from finding favor with God and with others (Proverbs 3:4; 21:21).
Proverbs 3:3 names the qualities that garner favor: faithfulness and love.
It’s true. Those two character traits play out in goodness, generosity and grace. Without fail, that kind of person experiences great satisfaction in her relationships. After all, that’s how God designed us (Acts 20:35).
“A full life cannot be measured by the quantity
but rather the quality of one’s relationships
with others and with God.”
–Warren Mueller
- A meaningful life comes from living wisely (Proverbs 8:35).
And just how do we do that? By applying integrity to our actions, discretion in our conversations, and prayerful, Spirit-led discernment in our decisions.
“Wisdom is the power to see
and the inclination to choose
the best and highest goal,
together with the surest means of attaining it.”
–J. I. Packer
And wisdom leads to peace of mind, contentment, and a clear conscience—important foundation stones for a meaningful life.
- A meaningful life comes from internalizing God’s ways (Proverbs 11:28, 21:21).
These proverbs, (11:28 and 21:21), provide a corollary to the previous one. A wise person follows the course of conduct established by the Father of Wisdom and revealed in the Bible. He made us; he knows the best way for us to live.
Countless millions have devoted their lives to the accumulation of stuff, the pursuit of fame, and the climb to a position of power.
Yet King Solomon (who had it all) proclaimed: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Did you notice that four words out of seven in that verse are the same? “Meaningless!” I hear a bit of frustration in Solomon’s voice, don’t you?
Wouldn’t it be wise for us to avoid the mistakes he made? Maybe we should post that verse on the fridge, to keep us grounded in what really matters: God’s purpose for our lives.
“No real meaning exists
apart from linking our lives
to God’s purpose.”
–John Maxwell
- A meaningful life comes from reverencing God (Proverbs 14:27; 19:23).
And reverence includes honor, respect, adoration, and awe. Embracing these attitudes toward God leads to deep satisfaction, complete peace, and true joy, because:
“The man who has God as his treasure
has all things in One.”
–A.W. Tozer
- A meaningful life comes from trusting God (Proverbs 16:20b).
God alone knows me better than I know myself. He alone is aware of what’s going on in the lives of those around me. And he alone can see into the future. Why do I think I’m capable of moving ahead on my own?
Even when trouble comes to call, I can rest assured that such experiences have purpose and meaning (Romans 8:28).
I would do well to remember:
“Relinquishment is a prerequisite to fulfillment.”
–Eugene Peterson
- A meaningful life comes from an attitude of humility (Proverbs 22:4).
Humility is the proper perspective of oneself, especially in relation to God. He is all-powerful, all-wise, all-seeing, and more. Reminding ourselves of his magnificence is one way to foster humility.
Another way is to be thankful. A full, satisfied life is grounded in humble gratitude.
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving,
turn routine jobs into joy,
and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
–William Arthur Ward (italics added)
M-m-m. Living thankfully, joyfully, and blissfully aware of each blessing. Yes, that does sound like a highly satisfactory way to live.
* * * * * * * * * *
Service, Wisdom, Obedience, Reverence, Trust, Humility, and Gratitude. That’s a long list, Lord. Perhaps the full, meaningful life is out of reach for me. Oh, but if I consider the interrelatedness of these qualities, the reach is shortened considerably. Obedience includes service, and reverence naturally leads to humility. Humility includes gratitude, and trust leads to wisdom. Most important of all, YOU want all of your children to experience life to the fullest. Oh, how I praise you for your direction and provision to make that happen!
(John 10:10; Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:3)
(Photo credit: www.kitchendaily.com.)
From the Inside Out 