The Purpose of Our Life in This World?

 

Dear Chui Mee Ting

Thank you for your question and request the purpose of our life here in this world. To make money and enjoy ourselves till we die? 

Hmm! This is a very interesting question. How shall I field your question? 

Before I answer, let me quote a few verses pertaining to our purpose of life is here in this world:

“and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

(Isaiah 22:13)

“They struck me,” you will say,1 “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”

(Proverbs 23:35)  

“And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (Luke 12:19)

More importantly let me quote another story from John 3:15 in the King James Version where a  very learned Jewish leader by the name of Nicodemus who quietly and secretly went to Jesus by night to ask him a few questions here:

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life”.

In essence, what you are asking is similar to asking:

“Can you tell me what our purpose of life is here in this world, both from the biological point of view and from the spiritual perspective as given in the eyes of science and evolution and in the bible.  Is it just for us to enjoy life in this world with no purpose, or is there a higher spiritual purpose?

I thank you for this very profound and thought-provoking question.

I am not Jesus of course who can handle this question with great spiritual wisdom for anyone who has great learning and knowledge like Nicodemus. But Jesus has given me some spiritual guidance on how to navigate this challenging question on the purpose of life here in this world.

Let me try. The purpose of life has been a central question for humanity, and I will approach it from both the biological and spiritual perspectives, while also integrating insights from science, evolution of life, and the Bible.

Firstly, from the biological evolutionary perspective - an area of biological science I am more familiar with, life exists to continue its existence through survival and reproduction. Evolutionary biology teaches that organisms, including humans, have developed traits that maximize their chances of survival and passing on their genes to the next generation. The primary purposes from this view can be distilled into survival where lifeforms are driven by the need to maintain themselves in a dynamic environment. This involves acquiring food, shelter, and protection from threats.

Secondly our purpose here is for reproduction and to be fruitful. Genesis 1:26-28 God commands humans to "be fruitful and increase in number". In Genesis 9:1, 7 God commands Noah and his sons to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. In John 15:16 Jesus says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain". In Matthew 7:16–20 Jesus says, "Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire". 

In Psalm 1:3 it says:  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper". 

In other words, these verses when translated as seen in the eyes of a biologist, the continuation of life depends on reproduction. Biological organisms seek to reproduce, passing genetic material onto future generations to ensure the survival of the species. In order for us to exist we need to adapt to challenges against diseases and harsh environments.

Evolution requires adaptation by natural selection to ensure that organisms best suited to their environment pass on their traits. The process is ongoing, with life forms adapting to changing environments over millennia.

Thus, the purpose of life can often seem mechanistic—about propagation, adaptation, and survival. However, humans, with our consciousness and intelligence, have evolved the capacity to contemplate meaning beyond survival. Science does not address why we exist, but it helps us understand how we exist.

Let us now look at the purpose of life from the religious and biblical view. From a spiritual standpoint, many belief systems, including Christianity, suggest that life is about more than just survival. In the Bible, life is often depicted as having a higher purpose, connected to God’s plan, human morality, and the relationship between the Creator and creation. In the higher purpose of life, the Bible speaks of a purpose that transcends material existence. It teaches that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), endowed with a soul, and have a unique role in creation. Life’s purpose, therefore, is not just to survive but to know, love, and serve God. By this, I mean moral and ethical living.

The verses I quoted earlier illustrate a tension between living for pleasure—"eating, drinking, and being merry"—and a more meaningful existence. The Bible warns against excess and hedonism, as seen in the Luke 12:19 passage, where someone who stores up earthly goods is chastised for neglecting the spiritual aspects of life.

What about the sole enjoyment of living you asked me? In Isaiah 22:13 and Proverbs 23:35, the verses reflect the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. The Bible often contrasts temporary pleasures with the pursuit of eternal truths and lasting joy that comes from fulfilling one’s spiritual purpose in alignment with God's will.

Jesus speaks of a deeper purpose—eternal life and spiritual transformation and fulfilment. In Christianity, this involves not just material success but living in accordance with God's commandments, fostering love, forgiveness, and compassion, and ultimately finding eternal life through faith and redemption.

Thus, in order to answer your question holistically, we need to combine the biological and spiritual purpose of life.

When we juxtapose the biological with the spiritual, it’s clear that humans have dual natures: physical and spiritual. On the biological side, we have drives to survive, reproduce, and pass on our genes, while on the spiritual side, many believe that we are called to seek higher meaning and purpose. Life, therefore, may not be just about pleasure and enjoyment; there could be a higher calling.

In the Bible, one of the core themes is stewardship: humans are entrusted with the care of the Earth and each other. From this perspective, part of our purpose is not just individual survival but the collective flourishing of humanity in relationship with God and creation. We also need to consider hedonism vs. higher purpose. The Bible warns against living solely for the moment, as exemplified in the verses I mentioned:

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (Isaiah 22:13): This suggests a hedonistic philosophy, where life is to live for immediate gratification, assuming that death renders life meaningless. However, the Bible challenges this by suggesting that there is accountability beyond this life, a higher calling that demands we live with moral integrity.

In Luke 12:19 ("Eat, drink, be merry") Jesus uses this parable to illustrate the foolishness of storing up material wealth without thought for one's soul. The message is that life’s purpose is deeper than material success—it includes preparation for eternity and living in alignment with divine will.

In short, there is a synthesis of purpose, namely, from the biological point of view, humans are part of an evolutionary process where the immediate purposes of life are survival, reproduction, and adaptation. Yet, the spiritual perspective suggests that there is more to life than just these material goals. Humans have the capacity to seek meaning, ask about their origins, and pursue a relationship with the divine.

The Bible points to a higher purpose: to live in harmony with God, fulfil His commandments, and seek not just earthly pleasures but spiritual fulfilment. In a Christian worldview, this ultimate fulfilment comes from faith, love, and living in accordance with God’s will, with the promise of eternal life.

In essence, the biological purpose is to thrive and continue life, while the spiritual purpose points to seeking meaning beyond material existence, cultivating a relationship with God, and fulfilling a higher moral and ethical role in the world.

It’s not that enjoyment is wrong, but according to the Bible, our ultimate purpose goes beyond immediate pleasures—towards a life lived in the pursuit of righteousness, love, and divine purpose.

I hope this synthesis addresses your thoughtful question, Mee Ting? May I ask if you are a male or a female? Your name sounds like a female?