What Matters in Life?

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Written by Jimmie Burroughs –  Email this article to a friend

If someone were to ask you at the end of your life did your life really matter, how would you answer the question?

What matters in life must first be decided before a person can determine how they can live a life that matters . . . “Nothing matters unless it matters absolutely.” Dr. William Vallicella. What forms the basis of your belief determines if anything matters, or if everything matters; there is no grey area.

Today the supposition that there are no absolutes, held by some college professors, must also conclude that nothing really matters. If evolution forms the basis of your belief, once again nothing really matters. Evolution is the belief that nothing + nothing = everything; therefore, everything points back to nothing and nothing does not matter. If that sounds a little crazy, it is because it is, just as evolution is crazy. The only reason anyone could ever believe a theory as insane as evolution is that there is no other alternative other than believing in God, which they refuse to do.

Therefore, the very first prerequisite for deciding what matters in life is accepting the existence of God. Many are not going to accept God’s existence; therefore, the only answer for them is to live a meaningless existence that does not matter. Sorry, but by your own belief there is no other alternative. For those who accept God’s existence, there is hope, hope in purpose that does matter; hope in accomplishments that do matter; hope in heaven and everlasting life that do matter. I do not know about you, but the second view sure sounds far better than the first. Since the choice is yours to make, why not enter in through the straight gate. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat,” Matthew 7:13.

What matters in life? Broadly, everything matters, but for the sake of simplicity and brevity, there are three things that extremely matter.

• What you believe
• How you respond to what you believe
• How you live

What you believe determines everything else about you and particularly the path you choose to take in your life. For instance, if you believe in evolution, it makes no difference whether you live or die; life has no intrinsic value. On the other hand, if you believe that there is a plan and organization to life that is authored by a supreme being, life is precious, has meaning and purpose and is to be preserved.

Belief determines how one responds to all of life’s questions. If there are no absolutes and everything we see and touch is only a result of a series of random accidents occurring over millions of years with no rhyme or reason, then all things are meaningless. There is no possible hope. Dead or alive…neither matters.

How you live will result from what you believe and how you respond to what you believe. A person who accepts the reality of God has a reason for wanting to learn more about God. They will have decisions to make on that belief as to how they view God. Is he a God that has our best interest at heart? Is he a personable, knowable God? Is the Bible an Accurate account of God? Is there life after death? Does God offer a person eternal life in heaven?

Finally, how you live will be the result of how you answer those questions above. How then can we live a life that matters?

Once you determine that there are absolutes in life and that there is a personable, knowable God, then your purpose in life takes on a new meaning. Things that once might have been top concerns, no long seem to matter at all; instead, you now have a new purpose. Now you see clearly and recognize that there is more to life than emptiness. There are purpose and hope. You now stand on the very threshold to fulfill that purpose and to discover that hope.

Without God, there is no hope! With him, we can claim our life and live it in accordance to his will and purpose. We now have a road map of purpose in his word, the Bible, to guide and direct all of life. We know where we came from and where we are going. No longer is there doubt and confusion. The way to live life that matters is now clear: God is the master and captain of our ship; he is in charge; we belong to him and are his responsibility. Life mattered to the Apostle Paul who said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” Philippians 1:21. Establish your own relationship with God today.

Conclusion:

Living a life that matters is not guesswork for me. I have been living it for longer than a lot of you reading this have been alive. I would not tell you the things above to mislead you. I know from a lifelong experience what makes life matter and what gives the longings of the heart: love, joy and peace. I hope you will at least consider what I have said and search it out for yourself.

About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who have been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. He is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ and considers helping others his calling in life. His website contains over 600 articles on preparing yourself for success through personal development and the things that accompany personal development.

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