SA国际传媒

By Douglas L. Rutt

Why am I here?听What is the meaning of my life? What difference does my life make? How is it听significant? It seems that human beings, since time immemorial, have occupied themselves with these questions.听The ancient Greek philosopher听Plato (428-348 BC)听is said to have defined humanity along those terms: “Man is a being in search of meaning.”听He must have been right, for even today, thousands of books are available on Amazon with the title, or very close to this,听“a life of significance,”听and,听if you Google it,听depending on the search terms you use, you are likely to come up with close to a billion听results. Yes, 1 billion!

Contemporary philosophers and psychologists have analyzed听the听significance of life听and whether it even exists听from many angles.听Is there such a thing as meaning and purpose if there is no Creator?听How do people construct meaning in their lives?听Are people searching for an illusion?听One recent article from听Psychology Today suggests that it is better听and healthier听to give up on the quest听for听an ultimate听purpose in life, especially one that is based on a听purpose originating in听a notion of a divine听being. The author concludes, “And so the meaning of life, of our life, is that which we choose to give it.”

Much of what is听published听on the subject of leading a life of significance is in the category of “self-help” resources. It’s not all bad in terms of the possible lifestyle choices one makes and the self-talk that one employs to听guide听one’s听life.听It is quite logical that if you take certain steps toward healthier living听or make “good choices,”听in general your life may improve.听Yet, in many cases, the plethora of advice on how to lead a life of significance directs you back to yourself, to听the听steps you must take听or changes you must听make, to lead a more rewarding, fruitful and significant life.
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Much of the advice has titles such as, “Seven steps toward a life of significance,” or听“The five habits toward creating a life of significance,”听with sage advice such as “change your thoughts, change your life,” or “assess your听dreams, and work听toward them.”听The problem is听that such advice, in and of itself, can听lead to despair and even hopelessness.听It is not always that simple, as if one can simply make up his or her mind to change and bring it about through sheer force of will.听As the听great听Apostle Paul听said about his own experience, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Rom. 7:19 ESV). King David听made some pretty bad choices, but eventually he听knew that if he were going to change, it would be God’s doing:听“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10 ESV). He recognized that he was powerless to transform his life by his own power and strength.

鈥淟eading a life of significance is something that comes from outside of ourselves 鈥� it is a gift of God.鈥�
鈥揇ouglas L. Rutt

And so, when we established this year’s theme for SA国际传媒 鈥� “Grace. Mercy. Peace. Lives of Significance.” 鈥� we did so听with a clear understanding that our lives have significance because they are significant to God.听Each and every human听being听born into this world is created by God, loved by God,听redeemed by God’s Son听and therefore is听a significant life听in and of itself.听We should never lose sight of that.听Leading a life听of significance is something that comes from outside of ourselves 鈥� it is a gift of God.听听听
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That is why the preface to our theme includes how or why we can lead听lives听of significance. It is because of God’s听grace, mercy and peace. The significant life is听possible听because of God’s grace 鈥� His loving kindness toward all humanity.听And that grace is offered to us because of His mercy 鈥� His compassion toward those of us who, apart from His grace,听are “like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt.听9:36 ESV). Peace is听what we can then experience in our quest for significance. Our lives are听significant听because they are significant to God.听We can rest in Him and stop striving after our own pride, on the one hand, or wallowing in despair听over our failures, on the other.听
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Sometimes we can be tempted to believe that leading a life of significance means prestige, recognition and听perhaps fame. We may think that, while we make contributions toward the greater good, they are not that significant. Nobody even cares.听But that is to look in the wrong place for significance. As the psalmist said,听听

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.听For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor” (Ps. 84:10-11a ESV).

To be a doorkeeper in the context of this psalm is to be in one of the lowest places of servitude.听And the implication of being in the “tents of wickedness” is听to be in a place of ease and worldly recognition.听But the psalmist recognizes that the life of听significance comes from the Lord Himself, for it is He who “bestows favor and honor.”听听
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While听a life of significance is a life of faith in Christ, our significance听also should听be seen in relationship听to others. Every听person, in his or her own vocation 鈥� as听a mother, father, employer, employee, teacher, student, etc. 鈥� is significant to those around听him or her.听Some say that the chief purpose in听man听is “to glorify God.”听Yet, we remember that, as Gustaf Wingren has said,听“God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does.”听Perhaps a more accurate way to put it is that听what听God calls us to听is love 鈥� love toward Him and love听toward our neighbor.听To love our neighbor is to lead a life of significance.听听听
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As we begin the new academic year at SA国际传媒,听one of the greatest pleasures of being associated with our community is听to see听the amazing听enthusiasm听and听commitment that our 600-plus students have toward听their Lord Jesus and His Word.听They have left many things behind to study at the Seminary. Many听could have other career opportunities.听Many听could find more high-paying jobs.听They are not seeking fame or fortune 鈥� that would not be a life of true significance.听Yet they want to lead a life of significance. They听know听that听our significance听comes from God,听but their sincere desire is to make听known to others that a听life of听significance听can be theirs听too.听They know that to听teach,听proclaim听and live out听the love of God 鈥� His grace,听His听mercy and His听peace 鈥� is听a highly significant way of expressing love toward our neighbor, and is听a highly significant way of, well,听living a life of significance.

Dr. Douglas L. Rutt is provost and professor of Practical Theology at SA国际传媒, St. Louis.