Question #1: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.
Question #2: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
Answer: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.
Jonathan Edwards, famous preacher and theologian of the mid 1700's, would have, like most other children, memorized the Westminster Catechism as a child.
He would have also memorized the accompanying related verses, and could read and write them in English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
As he matured, he began to expand the meaning of the answer to Question #1.
He would teach that man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but also that man best glorifies God by enjoying Him forever.
This "enjoyment of God" became a primary emphasis of Jonathan Edward's extensive ministry.
He wrote:
God glorifies Himself toward the creatures...in two ways:
1. By appearing to their understanding and
2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in
their rejoicing and delighting in Him, and enjoying,
the manifestation which He makes of Himself...
God is glorified not only by His glory being seen,
but by its being rejoiced in.
When those that see it delight in it, God is more
glorified than if they only see it....
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
I will praise You, O LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will praise Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:2
I have come that they may have life,
and have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
It is a Christian duty, as you know, for everyone to be as happy as he can. C. S. Lewis
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