There’s a famous (and historic) teaching tool which presents deep biblical truths in question and answer format. It’s called the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

The first entry is the most famous. Question: “What is the chief end of man?” These days, we might say it like this: What is the ultimate goal of a person’s life?

The answer is that it is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

It picks up on statements like Paul’s in 1 Corinthians 10:31—that we are to do everything “for the glory of God.” I also hear echoes of passages like Psalm 16:11: “you will fill me with joy in your presence…”, or Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

I’ll be honest. When I first learned about this Q and A, it didn’t overly impress me. I thought it was missing a lot of critical information, and was perhaps a bit simplistic. That was quite a while ago. Over time, however, and as I learn to appreciate the importance of seeing the big picture, it has grown on me. There’s more there than what first meets the eye.

Last week I was talking with my prayer partner, Winston. He highlighted something about the order of the words. He said that it is only after we first learn to serve and glorify God in all we do that we can then experience more of his joy. When we glorify God, joy closely follows.

-When we serve and glorify God in our homes, we experience more of his joy. 
-When we serve and glorify God in our churches, we experience more of his joy.  
-When we serve and glorify God as we help the people around us, we experience more of his joy.

This clearly highlights the goodness and love of our heavenly Father. He wants us to fix our eyes on him as the author and giver of all good things; to see this first is to see clearly. When that happens, we will experience more of his joy.

Is there still pain? Is there sill heartache? Is there still uncertainty? Yes, yes, and yes. But joy is the older and wiser cousin to happiness: It has fought a few battles, learned that tears aren’t the end of the story, and has come to see first-hand how God is a gracious and steady provider—even in a storm.

Are you a student? A retiree? A worker? A person who isn’t sure which direction to take? A person who is in the midst of a life transition?

Although the details of our lives differ from person to person and place to place… 

Glorify God and enjoy him. Forever.

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Notes and extra content:

–Post and Podcast: “Four Signs of Spiritual Maturity.” Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.