John Piper says in his book Desiring God: The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.
1. Understand and enjoy the character and work of God –Ps 78:1-8 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
- Seek after a heart knowledge of God’s character through a diligent study of the revelation of His character – the Bible.
- Observe the wonderful working of God in the environment that surrounds us.
- Be aware and appreciative of the wonderful working of God that takes place within us.
2. Understand and enjoy our purpose as men - Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- We are created to glorify and magnify the character of God by allowing his glory to shape us and shine through us.
3. Understand and enjoy our responsibility as men in the light of God’s character and our purpose
- A responsibility to grow continually in our knowledge of God’s truth - 2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- A responsibility to practically apply God’s truth so as to project an accurate image of God before a world that is starving for His truth. - Jas 2:18-23 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
- A responsibility to propagate and perpetuate God’s truth in the generations to follow. *Not a mere academic knowledge of truth but rather a genuine passion for truth that leads to the enjoyment and fulfillment that can be found in God for His glory. - 1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
4. Understand and enjoy the process of change that brings us closer to conformity with the image of Christ – 2 Corinthians 3
5. Understand and enjoy the relationships that we have as men
- Relationships in the home
- Relationships in the work place
- Relationships in the worship place
- Relationships in the community place
- Opportunities to influence those without Christ with the gospel
6. Understand and enjoy our distinct composition and function as men
- The need to lead
- The need to be needed
- The sense of adventure
- The desire to be at the top of our game
- The desire to have a story to tell
- The need for camaraderie
