How to Live with Significance

Why don’t I feel more fulfilled? Far too many people are asking themselves that question. They’re not happy, they’re not satisfied—in fact, they’re miserable.  

Here’s a story that illustrates why. Climbing Mount Everest is one of the challenges that inspire people to do something big. Many people try to reach Everest’s summit—but there are also climbers who die in their attempt. Many of the corpses line the path up the mountain. Yet people still want to climb the mountain, though it has no real redeeming social value.

A few years back one climber, David Sharp, was clearly in trouble on the mountain. There were at least 40 other climbers who noticed his obvious need but did little to help him. He died on Mount Everest because none of the other climbers were willing to put their personal goals on hold or risk their own safety to help him.

The truth is that most people are like that. Your own personal drive to have more, be more, do more—or even to protect yourself—causes you to lose sight of what really matters. But that isn’t how God wired you. Life isn’t about what you make, who you know, what you do, or looking out for yourself. Life is all about love—loving God and loving others.

Jesus says in Mark 8:35, “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB).

God wired you in such a way that you’ll never be happy unless you’re giving your life away in his work. You were made for something greater than yourself. The Bible calls this your mission in life. Significance doesn’t come from status, salary, or sex. It comes from service.

It’s only when you give your life away that you’ll feel fulfilled—like you’re living a life of significance.