Ultimate Purpose: me-centric or God-centric

What is my “ultimate purpose”?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “purpose” may be defined as “something set up as an object or end to be attained.” For example, it can be used in conjunction with purposeful activities supporting a specific goal such as training to run a marathon or the raison d’être of an organization as set forth in its mission statement. 

Both the foregoing “purposes” are sub-ultimate; that is, they may be established by individuals or organizations without regard to the big question “Why do I exist in the first place?” This latter question relates to the ultimate purpose of our lives, which is also captured by the question “What is the meaning of my life?” This is the big question that hit me in the gut after achieving some professional goals early in my business life that left me empty and unfulfilled. 

A binary construct

When it comes to ultimate purpose, there are only two possible sources - external or internal. Either it is determined externally by the Creator of everything including humankind or internally by ourselves. There are no other alternatives. If God created us, it is only logical that He did so for some specific ultimate purpose that only He can reveal. By analogy, a car doesn’t establish its own purpose. Rather, it is the inventor who, with the goal of creating a superior mode of transport, designed the car to achieve that end. Put differently, the car didn’t establish its own purpose! 

By contrast, if there is at bottom no Creator, then we are left to our own devices when attempting to answer this question. Whether God exists or not, the reality is that most individuals in the West are functional atheists. While they may say they believe God exists, they live their lives completely indifferent to His plans and purposes for them. 

As it happens, most people of this mindset tend not to think in terms of ultimate purpose. Indeed, the conclusion that there is no ultimate purpose is entirely consistent with the materialistic worldview that asserts we are the end result of chance operating on matter over time. Thus, they would resonate with the statement by Richard Dawkins, Oxford biologist and outspoken atheist, who declared, “The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.” As discussed in my book “More Than Your Business Card,” Dawkin’s assertion doesn’t stand up to critical scrutiny by many of his fellow scientists. Rather, it is anchored firmly in his materialistic worldview, not science.

While folks in this camp tend not to ruminate over things ultimate, we might infer from their lives that their ultimate purpose is maximizing personal happiness. By definition, this approach is “me-centric.”

While folks in this camp tend not to ruminate over things ultimate, we might infer from their lives that their ultimate purpose is maximizing personal happiness. By definition, this approach is “me-centric.” The secular orientation begins with the objective of survival but doesn’t end there. It likely includes other sources of happiness such as health, wealth, family, friendships and even involvement in charitable activities. While laudable, the latter are ultimately to the benefit of the giver. A quick look around supports the hypothesis that everyone acts in her or his own self interest. Thus, charitable involvements ultimately benefit not only the recipients of the charity but also the giver in terms of personal satisfaction (aka happiness).  

Happiness is not the same as fulfillment

One would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the me-centric camp who would say with conviction they are both happy and fulfilled. To quote former atheist C.S. Lewis, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” 

Until we discover the ultimate purpose of our own life, fulfillment is not only elusive but, in the end, unachievable. And goals reached based on internally created purpose statements including those couched in virtuous language simply won’t produce lasting fulfillment. When I encountered the person of Jesus as a young, successful executive, my question concerning the meaning of my own life was answered in an instant! 

How about you? Are you having success in your professional life yet feeling less than fully satisfied? If so, please contact me anytime to discuss.

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash