Finding True Happiness Through Purposeful Living

 

Summary

Living a meaningful life is a choice that many of us have already made, even if we didn't realize it at the time. The pursuit of meaning and purpose is often intertwined with the pursuit of happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness is fleeting and often dependent on external circumstances, while purpose is enduring and deeply rooted in our actions and intentions. The secret to a meaningful life lies in understanding that purpose and happiness are inseparable, with purpose leading to true happiness.

In our journey to find meaning, we must ask ourselves a critical question: "What breaks your heart?" This question shifts our focus from self-centered concerns to the needs of the world around us. It challenges us to identify the issues that move us deeply and to find ways to contribute to their resolution, even if we cannot solve them entirely. By giving a piece of our lives to something beyond ourselves, we find true fulfillment.

Jesus warns us about the subtle danger of greed, which can rob us of meaning while promising more. Greed ensures that we remain an end in ourselves, never becoming a means to an end. To live a life rich toward God, we must do for others what God has done for us, becoming a means to an end that doesn't end with us. This is where true meaning and purpose are found.

The parable of the rich man illustrates the folly of presuming on the future and equating possessions with life. The rich man, blinded by his greed, missed the opportunity to use his abundance for a greater purpose. Jesus teaches that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions, and we must guard against the consumption assumption—the belief that everything that comes to us is for our consumption.

To live a meaningful life, we must intentionally become a means to an end that doesn't end with us. This requires us to be generous with our time, resources, and influence, investing in causes that do not directly benefit us. By doing so, we ensure that our lives are worth celebrating, as the true value of our lives is determined by how much of it we give away.

Key Takeaways:

- Purpose and Happiness: True happiness is found in living a life of purpose. When we align our actions with a greater purpose, we experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy. [21:36]

- What Breaks Your Heart?: Identifying what deeply moves us allows us to focus our efforts on making a meaningful impact. By investing in causes that resonate with us, we find purpose beyond ourselves. [25:05]

- Guard Against Greed: Greed is a subtle thief that can rob us of meaning. It disguises itself as a virtue and keeps us focused on ourselves. We must be vigilant and intentional in becoming a means to an end that doesn't end with us. [34:50]

- The Consumption Assumption: The belief that everything that comes to us is for our consumption limits our potential for impact. We must challenge this assumption and seek ways to use our resources for the greater good. [43:05]

- Rich Toward God: To be rich toward God is to do for others what God has done for us. This selfless giving and serving create a life of meaning and purpose, reflecting our gratitude for God's grace. [52:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:54] - Choosing a Meaningful Life
- [19:48] - The Secret to Purpose
- [20:33] - Happiness vs. Purpose
- [21:36] - Purpose Leads to Happiness
- [23:09] - Understanding Meaning and Purpose
- [24:14] - A Better Question
- [25:05] - What Breaks Your Heart?
- [26:37] - Beyond Personal Benefit
- [27:22] - The Danger of Presumption
- [28:44] - Jesus' Teaching on Greed
- [31:33] - The Parable of the Rich Man
- [36:06] - The Deception of Greed
- [43:05] - The Consumption Assumption
- [52:04] - Being Rich Toward God
- [55:37] - Living a Meaningful Life

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Luke 12:13-21: The Parable of the Rich Fool

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the request made to Jesus by someone in the crowd, and how did Jesus respond? [30:42]
2. How does Jesus describe greed in the parable, and what warning does he give about it? [32:19]
3. What assumption did the rich man make about his possessions and his life? [44:16]
4. What question does Jesus pose at the end of the parable, and what is its significance? [48:47]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the parable of the rich fool illustrate the danger of equating possessions with life? [37:43]
2. In what ways does Jesus suggest that greed can rob a person of a meaningful life? [36:23]
3. What does it mean to be "rich toward God," and how does this concept challenge common views of wealth and success? [52:04]
4. How does the question "What breaks your heart?" help shift focus from self-centered concerns to a life of purpose? [25:05]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the question "What breaks your heart?" What is one issue or cause that deeply moves you, and how can you begin to invest in it? [25:05]
2. Consider the concept of the "consumption assumption." How can you challenge this belief in your own life and use your resources for the greater good? [43:05]
3. In what ways can you become a means to an end that doesn't end with you? Identify a specific action you can take this week to serve others selflessly. [53:59]
4. How can you guard against the subtle influence of greed in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to be more generous with your time and resources? [34:50]
5. Reflect on the idea of being "rich toward God." How can you do for others what God has done for you, and what impact might this have on your sense of purpose? [52:04]
6. Think about a time when you presumed on the future, assuming you had more time or resources than you actually did. How can you live more intentionally in the present? [47:12]
7. How can you ensure that your life is worth celebrating by giving away more of yourself? What specific changes can you make to align your actions with this goal? [57:58]

Devotional

Day 1: Purpose Leads to True Happiness
Living a life of purpose is not just about achieving personal goals or finding temporary satisfaction. It is about aligning your actions with a greater purpose that transcends your own desires. True happiness is a byproduct of this alignment, as it brings a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy that is not dependent on external circumstances. When you focus on living purposefully, you find that happiness follows naturally, as your life becomes more meaningful and impactful. [21:36]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to align your life more closely with a purpose that goes beyond personal satisfaction?


Day 2: Discovering What Breaks Your Heart
To live a meaningful life, it is essential to identify what deeply moves you. This involves asking yourself, "What breaks your heart?" By focusing on the issues and causes that resonate with you, you can direct your efforts toward making a meaningful impact in the world. This shift from self-centered concerns to the needs of others allows you to find purpose beyond yourself, leading to a more fulfilling life. [25:05]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one issue or cause that deeply moves you, and how can you begin to contribute to it in a meaningful way today?


Day 3: Guarding Against Greed
Greed is a subtle thief that can rob you of meaning and purpose. It disguises itself as a virtue, keeping you focused on accumulating more for yourself. To live a life rich toward God, you must be vigilant and intentional in becoming a means to an end that doesn't end with you. This involves doing for others what God has done for you, creating a life of selfless giving and serving. [34:50]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways might greed be subtly influencing your decisions, and how can you shift your focus toward serving others today?


Day 4: Challenging the Consumption Assumption
The belief that everything that comes to you is for your consumption limits your potential for impact. To live a meaningful life, you must challenge this assumption and seek ways to use your resources for the greater good. By being generous with your time, resources, and influence, you can invest in causes that do not directly benefit you, ensuring that your life is worth celebrating. [43:05]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one resource you have that you can share with others today, and how can you use it to make a positive impact?


Day 5: Being Rich Toward God
To be rich toward God is to do for others what God has done for you. This involves selfless giving and serving, creating a life of meaning and purpose that reflects your gratitude for God's grace. By becoming a means to an end that doesn't end with you, you find true fulfillment and joy in living a life that honors God and serves others. [52:04]

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." (1 Timothy 6:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally practice being rich toward God today by serving others in a way that reflects His love and grace?

Quotes

If given the choice between living a meaningful life, living a life full of meaning, or a life without meaning, a life without purpose, to borrow from ServPro, maybe you've seen the ServPro ads, a life without meaning would be like once you're gone, it's like you never even happen. [00:18:54]

And eventually it dawned on me, like it dawns on everybody eventually, that actually these two purpose and happiness are inseparable. That one leads to the other, but not the other, to the one that one leads to the other, but not the other, to the one. [00:21:36]

What breaks your heart? What breaks your heart? You're like me, you're bothered by a lot of things. You're irritated by a lot of things, maybe locally, culturally, nationally, maybe even internationally. There's some things in the world and you look at them and you say, that shouldn't be, I wish there wasn't that in the world. [00:25:05]

Even if the thing that breaks your heart is beyond your control, it's beyond your ability to change or beyond your ability to solve, you should pay attention to that. And as we're gonna see today, you should look for a way to give a piece of your life away to that issue. [00:27:22]

And Jesus says, Jesus says, you gotta watch out for it. And he ask them, he says, you gotta watch out, be on your guard. So I'm gonna ask you the question, the answer is no. So don't, don't pretend like you're better than you are. The answer is no. But I'm gonna ask it anyway. [00:34:50]

Because greed in all of its subtle forms, has the potential to rob your life of meaning. Wait a minute, how in the world can greed rob my life of meaning? You ready for this if you have to leave early? Here's the bottom line, because pleonexia or greed ensures we are always an end and never a means. [00:36:06]

Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. In other words, at no point do you equate the value of your life with what you own to which you would say. And I would say, well, of course we don't. And Jesus is like, yeah, but watch the way you live and watch the way you respond. [00:43:05]

And Jesus says, you fool, you don't know what the future holds. You don't have any guarantees. You don't even know what this day holds. He was a fool. Not because of what he owned. He was a fool. Because he was owned by what he owned. And he wasn't on guard against the subtle realities, the subtleness, ofia. [00:47:22]

To be rich toward God isn't about giving things to God. God doesn't need your things. God doesn't need our stuff. God doesn't need anything. God's immaterial. God is spirit. Jesus said. So this isn't about giving gifts to God. You know what this means? To be rich towards God is to do for others what God has done for you. [00:52:04]

And that's what's going to give your life. Meaning. No strings attached giving, no strings attached serving, no strings attached supporting. But if you're not careful, greed will rob you of that opportunity. If it's greed is a thief, here's why. Greed promises more, but always leaves you with less in the end, less of what matters. [00:55:37]

And Jesus because he loves you, is warning us not to allow that to happen and inviting us into a meaningful purpose, purposeful life. He said. But in order to do that, you have to be intentional and you have to find a way. Even if it's a small way to be a means to an end that doesn't end with you. [00:57:22]

Because in the end, as I tell you all the time, in the end, do you know what makes your life worth celebrating? What makes my life worth celebrating in the end, the value of your life. The value of my life will be determined and celebrated by how much of it was actually given away. [01:00:27]

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Transcript
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