Purpose of Human Life
So I had to write a paper for my mandatory theology class. I basically had to answer questions like “What do you believe…About God….About Jesus….About human nature…About the purpose of life?” So you know, basic questions most twenty-year olds have all figured out. Anyways, I was well pleased with my answer for the purpose of human life, so here it is.
Keep in mind it is really brief, I had eight of these questions I had to fit into six pages, so I might expand on it later.
I believe that the purpose of human life can best be seen in Genesis, before the fall. First, we were made to be in relationships.[i] God is a relational God, and all throughout the Scriptures it is clear that we are meant to be in community. Second, we were made to work.[ii] Before the fall, and the curse of our work not producing fruit,[iii] we were made to take care of the Garden of Eden. Even when the Prophets speak of heaven, they speak of us building houses, and planting vineyards.[iv] Thirdly, we were made to have fellowship with God.[v] The Lord was walking in the garden on a cool day, not just to spend time in His creation, but to dwell with us. Finally, similar to us working, we were made to have dominion over the earth.[vi] To put it simply, the purpose of human life is to worship God.
[i] Genesis 2:18 NIV
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
[ii] Geneses 2:15 NIV
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
[iii] Genesis 3:19 NIV
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
[iv] Isaiah 65:21 NIV
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
[v] Genesis 3:8 NIV
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
[vi] Genesis 1:26 NIV
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
