A Meaningful Life Is Possible

"The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow." - Psalm 90:10

Indeed, life in this world is filled with troubles and sorrows. In view of this, most of us wonder if a truly meaningful life is possible even now.

The link below contains a series of short articles that will answer the question, Is a meaningful life really possible? We can also find a thorough examination of the life of a person who provided the key to a meaningful life and how we can effectively make use of that key. Please follow this link.

Is a Meaningful Life Really Possible?

A Special Invitation

Throughout the world, the annual memorial of Jesus' death will be observed this coming March 26. 

Everyone is warmly invited to meet with us in this commemoration of the anniversary of Jesus' death. 

To find out more about what is included in this invitation and a location near you, please follow this link:

Memorial of Jesus' Death

Don't miss the occasion. It will make a big difference in your lives.

Money Management : Seven Wise Sayings

These sayings are recorded in an ancient book filled with tenets that have proved to be practical even in this highly technological modern world.

1. "A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver;  neither any lover of wealth with income."

- King Solomon (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

King Solomon of Israel, one of the richest men who ever lived, based these words on his personal experiences and observations. Today, many wealthy men have been making similar remarks.

2. "If we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation."

- Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 6:8,9)

Apostle Paul gave up a prestigious career and became a follower of Jesus Christ. He never coveted others' material things nor did he take advantage of his students' and associates' material possessions. Instead, he worked hard with his own hands to attend to his material needs.

3.  "Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it?"

- Jesus Christ (Luke 14:28)

This illustration can be applied to a situation we might face. When making a purchase, especially with a credit card, do we buy impulsively or be patient and count the cost? Do we really need the item and can we afford it?

4. "Those who borrow are slaves of money-lenders."

- King Solomon (Proverbs 22:7)

In his 2009 book Your Money: Day One, Michael Wagner states:  "It is common for a person today to have, on average, over $9,000 in credit card debt on four or more credit cards."

This is just one example showing the folly of credit-card and other forms of debt, which is also exposed by the recent world financial crisis.

5.  "The wicked one is borrowing and does not pay back, but the righteous one is showing favor and is making gifts."

- King David (Psalm 37:21)

Some view declaring bankruptcy as an easy way out of paying back what they owe. But those who treasure their good relationship with God conscientiously pay back what they owe, as long as it's possible,  and they also give generously.

6.  "A young man I used to be, and I have also grown old, and yet, I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread."

- King David (Psalm 37:25)

King David suffered unjust treatment. He became a fugitive, sometimes living in caves and sometimes seeking refuge in a foreign land. Later, however, he became the king of ancient Israel. During his life, he personally experienced the truthfulness of the aforementioned words that he himself penned.

7.  "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."

- Jesus Christ (Acts 20:35)

Spending his life on earth in the service of others, Jesus was certainly in the best position to say the words above. He experienced the greatest happiness as he served the interest of others.  Now he enjoys immortal spirit life in heaven at the right hand of his Father, Jehovah, "the happy God".

 (Based on Awake magazine, September, 2011, pages 8, 9)

What Makes Life Meaningful

To find real meaning in life, it helps to examine some sound principles found in God's Word, the Bible. After all, our Creator and the Author of the Bible, created us to live a happy and meaningful life. And so he provided his Written Word to show that he cares for us and desires to guide us to a life that he has meant for us.

The following are some of these guiding principles.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

"With a man there is nothing better than that he should eat and indeed drink and cause his soul to see good because of his hard work. This too I have seen, even I, that this is from the hand of the true God."

God created us to find satisfaction in wholesome work. Even in unfavorable circumstances, we can still find joy in life from working honestly and diligently.

 Acts 20:35

‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."


If we keep doing things for others, like giving of our time and energy to assist them in times of difficulty, we can add real meaning to our lives and reap unexpected rewards.

Here's another Scripture related to this principle:

Proverbs 3:27

"Do not hold back good from those to whom it is owing when it happens to be in the power of your hand to do it."

Wholeheartedly following these words  brings us rich blessings.

Proverbs 17:17

"A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress."

We all need true friends to make life more bearable, especially in times of troubles. They are there to cushion the blow for us. Having true friends and being a good friend can be beautiful and satisfying.

Matthew 5:3

“Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them."

We humans have the innate need to understand the meaning and purpose of life. It is vital therefore to recognize and fill our spiritual need if we want to enjoy the fulfillment of God's promises. We can fill that need by making time to study the Bible, from which we can understand such Scriptural truths as to God's purpose for the earth, why we are here, why there is so much suffering and what God expects of us. Learning about these and applying them in our lives can make us happy because we are building a trusting relationship with our Creator, "the happy God." 

Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Remember your Creator... before the time of trouble comes and the years draw near when you will say, 'I see no purpose in them.'"

Making our Creator the focus of our life will give our life real purpose.  At Ecclesiastes 8:12, the wise King Solomon said that if we "fear the true God", and put him first in our life, things "will turn out well" for us.

Millions worldwide have found these principles truly beneficial and highly rewarding. No matter what their circumstances in life may be, they are enjoying a truly satisfying and meaningful life.

Does God Really Care About Us?

Since we live in a world full of cruelty and injustice, many people feel that there is no God, or if there is, he doesn't care about us at all. Many religious leaders teach that the sufferings we experience are God's will, a teaching that turns people away from God and makes them more alienated from him, let alone hate him.

The truth is, God never causes wickedness and sufferings. Job 34:10 says, " Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!" 

Actually, God has a loving purpose for humans. That is why Jesus taught us to pray: "Our Father in the heavens, let...your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." (Matthew 6:9,10) God cares so deeply about us that he has made arrangements to provide ways in order to fulfill his purpose. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) The fact that Jesus has already given his life for us guarantees that soon, all wickedness and sufferings will be gone and that righteous mankind who put faith in God and Jesus will attain eternal life in the new world.

While waiting for the fulfillment of God's purpose, we can make our lives meaningful and satisfying right now, knowing that God cares about us. When we experience adversities or when the wickedness around us becomes too much to bear, this Scripture helps a lot: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;  while you throw all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6,7)

Preparing for the Future

Most people today have their minds set on acquiring much material things and make it big in the world. They spend most of their time and energy in working just to have it all or to be economically better off than their friends and neighbors. 

Sometimes, their being busy with such material endeavors leaves them no time for their spiritual needs, which is of paramount importance for a person to have a really meaningful and satisfying life. It's true that material things can do good for our survival, but these cannot give perfect health, extend our lives, keep us away from sickness and accidents, and the likes. 

On the other hand, spiritual riches can benefit us in so many ways even while we live in this wicked and suffering-infested world. They can make our lives truly worth-living and satisfying. Most of all, they can lead us to a future filled with all the things that our hearts desire; to a new paradisaic world where all people will be righteous and perfect and will live eternally just as our loving Creator has purposed it to be. 

It is therefore more important to work harder on acquiring spiritual riches first, that is, pursuing the will of God and abiding by it, than to acquire material things that cannot save us at all and that will be done away with. That means our future, a future that will last forever.

The Scripture below is worth-meditating on.

"For what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? " - Matthew 16:26

A Light To Guide Us

"Your word is a lamp to my foot,

And a light to my roadway."

-Psalm 119:105

This world is in  dismal state where people grope about in  darkness, not knowing whether there are predators that lurk in some hidden corners and suddenly prance at them. Or there may be some boulders along the way that may cause them to stumble and get hurt.

On this account, we need a lamp to light our road way. According to the aforementioned Scripture, "Your word", referring to the Word of God, is the light that guides us. God's written word, the Bible, is filled with divine guidance and principles that  help us to evaluate our situation and offer us the right course to take. In order to have this light, we must spend some time each day to examine God's Word, meditate on what we read and apply the principles in our lives. If we do this, we can protect ourselves from dangers, and we can walk straight on to success. 

A Promise of Refreshment

"For he has satisfied 

the dried-out soul;

And the hungry soul he has filled 

with good things."

-Psalm 107:9

Our constant daily struggles can make us weary. Pressures and anxieties lie on our shoulders like heavy loads, gradually sapping us of energy. We want to do other things that we truly enjoy but it may not be possible because of the numerous responsibilities that we should primarily accomplish. 

Added to our endeavors to make a living, we also encounter problems with our fellows which can be discouraging and can drain us of what strength is left in us. Our soul becomes "hungry" and "dried-out", as the Scripture says.

Nevertheless, our loving Father has this promise of saturating or fully satisfying us. He sees to it that we can maintain good spiritual and emotional health which are vital for us to keep our joy amid difficulties. Such godly joy prevents us from losing our power to go on living and succeed in whatever we do.

Again, we can see from this passage that God is interested in our feelings as individuals, and he assures us that he will refresh and satisfy us. But for us to benefit from this loving assurance, we must have full trust in him and run to him for assistance. Only then can we truly feel and understand the import of this promise.

A Treasure Worth More Than Gold and Silver

"Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain and having it as produce than gold itself.  It is more precious than corals, and all other delights of yours cannot be made equal to it. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand there are riches and glory. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy."

- Proverbs 3:13-18

A man of wisdom possesses the kind of treasure that preserves his life not only now but throughout eternity. Unlike material treasures that may give a measure of protection but at the same time endangers the life of one who has them, wisdom is for all time a protection. It can direct one to the right path, away from the alluring and deceptive  byways and highways of this world where most people have been misled. A wise man knows that danger lurks in those ways and thus avoid them. He follows the way of wisdom from above, which is the perfect way. In doing so, he procures true riches and glory, peace and happiness. Most of all, he keeps walking in pleasantness as he moves on to his life's journey into the wonderful future that the Giver of such wisdom has prepared for him. And he will enjoy life to time indefinite.

The Book That Makes Us Truly Wise and Successful

"This book of the law should not depart from your mouth, and you must in an undertone read in it day and night, in order that you may take care to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful and then you will act wisely." - Joshua 1:8

 

 

In an attempt to find ways to improve their lives and to become successful in their endeavors, some people turn to self-help books that claim to have the best solution that people in general are seeking for. They may spend much time searching for the right one from all the innumerable books that have been published, and much money to purchase them. 

On the other hand, there is a book that can certainly help people of all ages and background. It may be an old book, but all its counsel and guidance are up-to-date. They were written purposely for all seasons and for all generations. Millions who have examined the contents of this book and followed the guidance found therein have experienced a truly successful life and lasting joy that springs from a bright hope that the book highlights. It is the hope of a future life in perfection which the book's own Author promised. 

This great book is none other than God's Word, the Bible. It is a living book in the sense that many of the words penned there can touch the hearts of humans and change their lives for the better. Further, many of the prophecies written there are still undergoing fulfillment, which a serious and diligent researcher can clearly see from the ongoing world events.  The fulfillment of these prophecies keeps flowing to its climax when all the world's problems will be completely removed and a new wonderful world will take place.

Everyone can avail of this book for free. A visit to the following link can lead one to reading this book and other related publications online. Reading this book regularly and meditatively, and applying the words in our lives can surely help us to be wise and successful.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/publications/index.htm

He Keeps Watching Over Us

"Were I to take the wings of the dawn,
That I might reside in the most remote sea,

There, also, your own hand would lead me

And your right hand would lay hold of me." 

- Psalm 139:9,10

Wherever we go in the world, whether in the brightest of places or in the deepest of shadows, our Heavenly Father has his eyes upon us, taking note of what we do. Whatever we do, be it  pleasant in his eyes, or unpleasant, still he takes note of it. Even if we try to hide from him, we cannot escape from his ever watchful eyes.

 

However, this fact should not make us uncomfortable. On the contrary, we should be happy because he is always there on the lookout for our own safety. He is not out to find fault with us or to make us feel exposed or unworthy because of some mistakes that we make. Rather, he is there, watching over us, in order to find opportunities for him to help and protect us from anything that may put us in danger. He is a loving and caring Father who wants his children to live a happy and successful life.

He Will Surely Provide for Our Needs

For those who put God first in their lives,  that is, who make the doing of God's will their priority, there's no cause for worry at all concerning their material needs. The Almighty Father knows all their needs, and He will surely provide for them as long as they keep the Father foremost in their lives. Here is the promise:

“Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU. So, never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness." 
- Matthew 6:33,34

The message is clear: If we put spiritual things first, then all our material needs will be added to us. Millions worldwide have experienced the fulfillment of this promise. They are the ones who strive to serve God first, trusting in His promises, and they have never found themselves lacking in their material provisions. 

This doesn't mean, however, that they don't work at all, and just wait for these material things to drop from heaven. They do work hard, and God blesses their efforts so that they can have what they need materially. That's how God adds to their material necessities. So they don't need to worry about the following day, knowing that God will keep providing for them.

Guarding Against Unbridled Rage

 "Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with YOU in a provoked state,  neither allow place for the Devil." - Ephesians 4:28,27

 It's only natural to be angry, and our anger may be justifiable. But remaining in an angry or wrathful state will only do us harm. Aside from its ill effects on our physical health, it can also put us in a position where the Devil can easily prey on us and induce us to do something evil against our fellows and against God. 

So if we feel that rage is brewing in us, it's best to pray immediately and ask God to help us be "cool of spirit" and have self control so that we can avoid acting in a harmful way. If our rage is caused by some disputes with our fellows, we must settle them peacefully as soon as possible. We should not allow ourselves to remain in a provoked state and be a victim of the Devil's malicious designs to destroy us.

Keep On Asking, And You Will Receive

Some people don't get what they ask for and  can't find what they're seeking for. This is especially true with regards to their pursuits of material things or emotional needs. However, persistence is one good quality in order to get what one truly needs. In the Scripture below, the Son of God tells his listeners,

“Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened."

- Matthew 7:7,8

This inspirational passage has its more profound application for us as regards our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is to Him that we ask for whatever we need, but we must ask them in the right way. For instance, in order to have the basic material things that we need, we have to ask him for qualities that enable us to work in order to produce our material necessities. We also need to ask for wisdom and endurance to cope with difficult situations. If we feel that we are too weary or weak to care for our responsibilities, it is urgent that we ask for strength to carry them out.

It's not enough to ask just once though. As the Scripture shows, we must keep on asking. This doesn't mean that the Almighty doesn't hear us the first time we ask. Of course, He knows what we need even before we ask Him. But if we keep on asking Him, we demonstrate that we are sincere in our requests and that we rely on Him and trust that he can give us what we ask for. So we need to keep on asking, not doubting at all that He will provide for us, and we will surely receive.

The Beauty of Our Creator's Law (video version)

Adding Meaning to Our Lives Permanently

Most of us are interested in the meaning of our existence. But if we take a closer look at how short life is and full of misery, it seems like our existence is meaningless. It's like these lines from Shakespeare's Macbeth:

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player         
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”—Macbeth, Act V, Scene V.

But our existence need not be like that. We can make it significant by first acknowledging the fact that humans are not the true center of meaning. "Our Grand Creator is that center, and any real meaning to our existence logically involves him and depends upon him. To find such meaning and the deep satisfaction it brings, we need to come to know the Creator and bring our lives into harmony with his will." (Creator book published by WTBTS)

It is therefore vital to turn to the Creator for guidance in order make our lives meaningful. Psalm 90:12 says, 

 “Show us just how to count our days in such a way that we may bring a heart of wisdom in. Satisfy us in the morning with your loving-kindness, that we may cry out joyfully and may rejoice during all our days. And let the pleasantness of Jehovah our God prove to be upon us.”

These three phrases here ,‘Satisfied in the morning.’ ‘Rejoicing during all our days.’ ‘God’s pleasantness on us’, signify a truly meaningful life which is brought about by turning to our Creator and revolving our lives around him. We can only understand and experience the deep impact of this if we apply godly wisdom in our lives.