When you reflect on your life and all you have accomplished, do you wonder if any of it matters? King Solomon did. He had become the richest, wisest, and most successful man on earth, but he reached the end of his life and called it all meaningless. He was surrounded by everything he ever could’ve dreamed of, but in the end, none of it mattered.
“Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless!”
King Solomon (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
I’m not wealthy and successful like Solomon was, but I can relate to his sentiment. Sometimes I feel as if there’s no grand purpose for my life. I try to live a life surrendered to Jesus. I want each part of my life to matter for eternity, but sometimes it seems so normal and mundane. How can I make it all matter?
Refocus.
When my day-to-day hustle seems meaningless, it’s time to change my perspective. The meaning of life is not found in what I accomplish, it is found in the One who created me and in His purpose for me. If I feel unfulfilled, I need to ask myself if I am in God’s will. Am I focusing on the outcome or on the One who controls it?
Check the end game.
If the goal is to gain riches, achieve success, or please people, the bar will constantly change. Someone will always be better and have more. But when I work at everything as if working for God, not for people, that changes my whole attitude. (Colossians 3:23-24) It elevates me in the mundane moments and humbles me in the exciting ones. Each moment of my life is part of God’s master plan. They may not all be wonderful and exciting, but with the right attitude, they can all be experienced with wonder and excitement.
Make it all matter.
I wonder what would’ve happened if Solomon had decided to write Ecclesiastes earlier in life. If he had realized sooner that the endless accumulation of wisdom, wealth, and success would never satisfy him, he might have remained committed to the Lord and made it all matter for eternity.
When we walk with the Lord and live life for His glory, none of it is meaningless. Every experience we encounter is part of our sanctification journey. When we do life with Jesus, we can celebrate the exciting moments and embrace the mundane ones. Whether we have a lot or a little, we must make it all matter for the Kingdom of God, or it won’t matter at all.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.” – Matthew 25:21 ESV
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. – Philippians 2:13 NLT
The question “How can I make it all matter?” is a great one. I would be happy with making just some of it matter. To make it all matter, I’d probably have to watch less tv and quit 90% of my job. Thank you for sharing.