How many children do you have?  If you have two or more then I’m confident that as a parent you have been called upon at times to referee arguments that have taken place between your children.  If your children aren’t old enough to be in that stage yet, you have that to look forward to.  Here’s an example of how it goes.  When one child hits another, the hitter claims, “It was an accident.”  The one who got hit normally responds, “Huh uh!  You did that on purpose!”  Sometimes it takes a Solomon to figure out what really did happen, so as parents you scold both children and warn them against repeating this kind of behavior again. 

What does it mean to do something on purpose?  The word “purpose” is defined as, “The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; goal; aim.” [The American Heritage Dictionary].  By the way, what is your purpose in life?  Parents, what is your purpose in life for your family?  What do you have as goals for your children?  Some parents would say such things as, “My purpose in life for my children is for them to get a good education, get a good job, find a good spouse, have children of their own, and be happy.  While that sounds like a really good game plan, the sad truth is, many people have all of these things and more, but they still wander through life aimlessly without real meaning in their lives.  Several years ago, a popular rock group, called “Kansas,” produced a song entitled, “Dust In The Wind.”  Their conclusion in this song was, “All we are is dust in the wind.”  Is this true?  Do we exist only for the purpose of wandering through life aimlessly like “dust in the wind?” 

King Solomon by inspiration wrote, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.  In Ecclesiastes Solomon explores “the meaning of life.”  In chapter one and verse thirteen he tells u s he, “Set his heart to see and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven.”  He was looking for meaning and purpose in his life.  “He said concerning himself, ‘Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me…” [Eccl. 1.16].  Yet, he soon concluded more knowledge equaled more sorrow and grief.  In chapter two he sought life’s meaning through pursuing fleshly pleasures.  He tried to fill his emptiness by using his vast fortune to buy everything his eyes saw, thinking this would fulfill him.  But, this too was vanity.  And it was really perplexing to know that someday he would die and leave it all to his survivors, and someone of them could be lazy, and useless.  But, the point is as Solomon writes in the book of Ecclesiastes concerning his exploring life’s meaning, he didn’t find fulfillment in worldly pursuits. 

Now let me share with you Solomon’s conclusion.  It’s a good conclusion that should be your conclusion and purpose for you and your family.  Solomon concludes, “fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man,” [Ecclesiastes 12.13].  Jesus tells us, “man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” [Luke 12.15]. 

No my friends, there’s more to life than things!  And your purpose for yourself and for your family should be serving the Lord Jesus Christ!  Since you can’t “serve two masters, [Matthew 6.24], you’ll have to make a choice.