"What does the Bible say about how to find purpose in life?"

Living life on purpose is a good choice. It means not living life randomly, but with positive intentionality. Christ-followers can live more satisfying, God-honoring lives as they define purpose biblically, and as they discover God’s plans for their lives.

What does the Bible say about purpose? How do we discover it? What happens when we stray from God’s purpose? Questions like these can help frame this important issue.

According to the Bible, the purpose of life is to glorify God and to love Him above all else. This is the foundation of Christianity and is the basis of all of the Bible’s teachings. The Bible also teaches that we should use our lives to serve others and to make a positive difference in the world.

To find purpose in life, one should know God through a personal relationship with Him, pray for direction, read the Word of God, surrender and obey, make careful choices, consider desires and gifts, get wise counsel, and notice God’s provision.

The Bible is very clear as to what our purpose in life should be. Men in both the Old and New Testaments sought for and discovered life’s purpose. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, discovered the futility of life when it is lived only for this world.

He gives these concluding remarks in the book of Ecclesiastes:

"Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Solomon says that life is all about honoring God with our thoughts and lives and thus keeping His commandments, for one day we will stand before Him in judgment. Part of our purpose in life is to fear God and obey Him.

Another part of our purpose is to see life on this earth in perspective. Unlike those whose focus is on this life, King David looked for His satisfaction in the time to come. He said, "And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness" (Psalm 17:15). To David, full satisfaction would come on the day when he awoke (in the next life) both beholding God's face (fellowship with Him) and being like Him (1 John 3:2).

In Psalm 73, Asaph talks about how he was tempted to envy the wicked who seemed to have no cares and built their fortunes upon the backs of those they took advantage of, but then he considered their ultimate end.

In contrast to what they sought after, he states in verse 25 what mattered to him: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (verse 25). To Asaph, a relationship with God mattered above all else in life. Without that relationship, life has no real purpose.

The apostle Paul talked about all he had achieved religiously before being confronted by the risen Christ, and he concluded that all of it was like a pile of manure compared to the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus. In Philippians 3:9-10, Paul says that he wants nothing more than to know Christ and “be found in Him,” to have His righteousness and to live by faith in Him, even if it meant suffering and dying.

Paul’s purpose was knowing Christ, having a righteousness obtained through faith in Him, and living in fellowship with Him, even when that brought on suffering (2 Timothy 3:12). Ultimately, he looked for the time when he would be a part of the "resurrection from the dead."

Our purpose in life, as God originally created man, is 1) glorify God and enjoy fellowship with Him, 2) have good relationships with others, 3) work, and 4) have dominion over the earth. But with man's fall into sin, fellowship with God is broken, relationships with others are strained, work seems to always be frustrating, and man struggles to maintain any semblance of dominion over nature. Only by restoring fellowship with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can purpose in life be rediscovered.

The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We glorify God by fearing and obeying Him, keeping our eyes on our future home in heaven, and knowing Him intimately. We enjoy God by following His purpose for our lives, which enables us to experience true and lasting joy—the abundant life that He desires for us.

Some people move forward by what “feels right.” Others consider what is “logical.” But Christ-followers were born for a purpose and are meant to live on purpose. The Bible declares that life is not random, haphazard, or an accident. God, the Creator, has declared purposes for His creation; and for the Christian, meaning and purpose are wrapped up in Jesus.

The Bible begins with God, and that is where man’s purpose begins too. God is the sovereign planner of the universe, and His good and holy purposes extend from before creation into eternity future. He will accomplish all He has planned to do (Isaiah 46:9-10).

“What is the chief end of man?” In other words, what is man’s purpose? The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Some have suggested that if we simply did this, we would fulfill our purpose on earth. Created in His image, people cannot fulfill their true purpose apart from Him.

God revealed two of His purposes for mankind at creation: procreation and the governance of the earth (Genesis 1:28a). Humans are to fill the earth and subdue creation (Psalm 8:4-6; Hebrews 2:6-8), something that is properly fulfilled in knowing and obeying God.

But after Adam and Eve sinned, after fellowship with the Creator was broken, God said His plan included the redemption of fallen humanity—a plan that unfolded throughout the rest of Scripture, extending into eternity. Ultimately, God’s purpose is to bring about a new heaven and earth, and dwell with His people forever.

The Bible expresses two kinds of purpose for believers—general and specific. Both are meant to prepare the believer to live forever in God’s presence, but also to encourage spiritual growth and ministry now.

The world offers numerous ways to find meaning. It defines purpose in terms of power, pleasure, wealth, intellect, and other things King Solomon called “vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The Bible teaches that life is “meaningless” apart from fearing and obeying God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Key Old Testament scriptures reveal important truths about God’s purposes.

No purpose of God can be thwarted (Job 42:2). Believers can humbly ask God to show them His ways and lead them (Psalm 25:1-9). God will fulfill His purposes for His children (Psalm 57:2; 138:8). Every day of a person’s life was laid out before birth (Psalm 139:16). God wants to guide believers along the best pathways, advising and watching over them (Psalm 32:8).

Key New Testament passages also instruct about God’s purposes.

God causes all things to “work together” for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Believers are to do all things for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:30).

In fact, God’s chosen people have been “predestined” according to His plan and purpose that they might be “for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12). God prepared good works for every believer to do (Ephesians 2:10). God will complete His good work in believers, and He works in them to act in accordance with His good purpose (Philippians 1:6; 2:13).