Question One:

What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, published November 25, 1647

Our Hope

Psalm 86:9

⁹ All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.

Isaiah 60:21

²¹ Your people shall all be righteous;
    they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
    that I might be glorified.

Romans 11:36

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20

²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 10:31

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Revelation 4:11

¹¹ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.”

Our Insight

372 years ago, as the Westminster Assembly sought to ground what is arguably the most important question in their catechism in the Word of God, they chose the five verses listed above.

These verses and the catechism are saying nothing less than this:

The reason you…

• Are alive—living and breathing as you read this
• Were born, shaped in your mother’s womb
• Have the physical body you have
• Have the strengths and weaknesses you have
• Have the capabilities and limits you have
• Belong to the family you belong to
• Do the work that you do
• Are in this season of your life
• Have the neighbors you do
• Have the friends you do
• Have the enemies you do
• Run into the people you do
• Have the challenges, struggles and pains you do
• Have the joys and pleasures you do
• Have the money you have or lack the money you need
• Have the roof over your head, clothes on your back and everything you own
• Drive the car you do
• Possess and assets and resources you do
• Are in the midst of hard relationships and great relationships
• Are facing the problems you never imagined
• Are enjoying the blessings of God like never before
• Are living in the midst of the worst global pandemic in modern history

The reason for all of these things, in fact “all things” in your life is that through them you would glorify God.

It is the simplest and most profound truth in life.

If this is not your reason for living, if this is not why you get up every day, then you are actually glorifying something else.

You see, made as image bearers of God, our lives are always making something look great. Our choices and actions always demonstrate what we believe matters most in life.

Nothing matters more than living to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Our Prayer

Before praying today, take a moment and give some thought to these questions:

1. How aligned is “your purpose in life” with God’s purpose for your life—to glorify Him?
2. If someone audited your checkbook, calendar and “online usage”—what conclusions would they draw about what is most important to you?

Ask God to shape your heart—as David prayed, “Give me an undivided heart, that I would fear your name.” Ask that the Spirit would transform your thoughts, emotions, desires and choices such that God’s glory becomes more and more the reason for all that you do.

Our Gratitude

Before closing this devotion, take a moment and bring to mind one thing—at this moment—that you are thankful for. And thank God for it.