Meaningful, Meaningless, and Means

“When people focus on means, they find their lives meaningless. But to the degree that they focus on ends, they find their lives meaningful.“ – Dr. David Corey

The quote sparked a great reflection penned by Jeff Haanen of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work. He continues:

When people focus their life’s goals not just on money, titles, and power, but even on noble goals like activism for a social cause, they mistake means for ends and find happiness fleeting. It becomes a life of constant “more” – more impact, more influence, more wealth. Yet they fail to realize that those should have been mere “means” toward a greater “end.”

Lately I have an opportunity to reflect on idolatry. I know, it sounds like such a strange idea for this  time and age, but what else would you call something that you put your trust in for your sense of meaning, purpose, significance, and worth?  If that something isn’t a Someone, the object of that misplaced faith is a counterfeit god, …an idol.

I learned from Tim Keller that an idol is any good thing that is made ultimate.  So of course the pursuit of money, titles, and power as the ultimate object of faith will lead to disappointment. Interestingly, even our activism to “do something for Jesus” can become an inferior end that will not lead to the full and meaningful life.

Read Jeff’s reflections here.  You may also want to take a look at the marvelous resources that the Denver Institute for Faith & Work have curated to help people live redemptively through their work.