God designed life to bring Him glory. Therefore, He determines the purpose of our lives. We are stewards, expected to offer our lives back to God as a tribute to His honor based on achieving the purpose of glorifying Him.
In his sixth resolution, Jonathan Edwards resolves to steward his life with unparalleled dedication and vigor for the glory of God. He challenges us to scrutinize the extent of our stewardship and the power with which we live to achieve the same chief end.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Jonathan Edwards
Stewarding Life for the Glory of God
Life is short. Although we all know this, most don’t ponder it until older. Edwards was a teenager when he penned this resolution, determined “to love” for God’s glory. To him, life was meant to be actively apprehended. He wanted to live purposefully, not carelessly, striving to see every moment bring honor to God.
For the apostle Paul, there was no other option. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). According to him, all of existence was meant for the enjoyment of God’s glory, even death. But before his life ended, he was determined to steward all of life for the glory of God. Our existence is for God’s honor.
Devoting Might for the Glory of God
Edwards qualified his determination with the strongest quality, “with all my might.” He had no other natural might to employ. So, with the little he had, he was resolved to use it all—all energy, all heart, all strength—vigorously in every aspect of his life to maximize honor to the Lord as the Lord commands.
The apostle Paul admonishes believers to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” in whatever we do (Col. 3:23). This strong, sincere striving is motivated by knowing we serve the Lord Christ. From Christ we have received the greatest gift—our salvation and entrance into the good presence of God—so the greatest offering we can give Him is our very life.
Fleeting Moments for the Glory of God
Edwards accepted the inevitable end for us all, “while I do live.” He knew that time was passing and life was brief. No one can possess time. In fact, we are not promised tomorrow. By the time Edwards wrote this resolution, he had already suffered the loss of several loved ones who died while still young. Life, because it is short, is to be vigorously lived.
James taught that no one knows what tomorrow will bring. He said that life is like a “mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (Jas. 4:14). The brevity of life ought to fuel our resolve to make the most of the life we have today.
Life has meaning, but not when it is floundered to lesser glory. Be convinced, as Paul was, to “not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Live your life with all your might for the glory of God.
