Why We Are Here

"As long as I see anything to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end."
-David Brainerd

I read this quote earlier this week and have been dwelling on this for a few days now and really felt compelled to write in this long forgotten blog of mine. I really do miss this ol' thing, it's nice to write my thoughts out, despite if anyone reads these ramblings or not.
This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. The idea that everything is meaningless unless done for God or for the love of others. If you really start to think about it it's so mind blowing to realize that nothing we do here on this earth will last after we die. All the money we acquire, the cars we own, the big house we buy, the movies we watch, all these things are meaningless.

I've realized that the only things that will truly matter are what we do to further God's kingdom. Sharing the gospel with the unreached, helping those in need, loving people, and living with a outward focus. I've learned something very valuable in these months since leaving Americorps, that the only time I'm truly, genuinely happy is when I'm helping others and serving God. As soon as my focus turns inward everything starts to fall apart.

This life is not about me at all, it's about what I can do to serve God. And this is exactly what Mr. Brainard was saying, and it resonated so greatly in me. Coupled with the fact that I'm reading Ecclesiastes which is all about discovering the meaningless pursuit of material things, and how great a life can be merely when you turn your focus upwards. It's so crazy to think about how material and selfish I am and how much I really need to change. There is so much pain and hurt all over the world and I'm worried about what shirt to wear that makes me look better. That is so embarrasing.

This quote by Nate Saint sums this up nicely and also sucker punches you:
"I would rather die now than to live a life of oblivious ease in so sick a world."

wow...