How can I find purpose in life?

from the old testament

• Solomon, a man who experienced riches and fame that most people cannot even imagine, expressed our purpose like this: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
• We are made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) for relationship with Him and to image (reflect) Him to others. In short, our purpose is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7; cf. Matthew 5:16).
• Our purpose in life is also to have a relationship with our Creator: "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight,' declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

from the new testament

• Many people spend their lives worrying about accumulating things. But Jesus expressed what our priority should be: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Our purpose becomes clearer when we put God first.
• We have life "abundantly" when Christ is at the center of it (John 10:10).
• Our purpose is to glorify God, as Paul wrote: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• Peter reaffirmed this purpose of glorifying God in our lives: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

implications for today

"What is the meaning of life?" People smirk at that question because it's such a cliché. It might bring to mind a monk sitting cross-legged on a mountain in some distant land. It might remind you of a philosophy class, a late-night dorm room debate, or someone searching for answers in all the wrong places. Yet beneath the cliché is a question every person eventually asks: Why am I here, and what is my life ultimately for?

Corny though it may appear to be, that question still plagues us, though—at least it does when we stop operating on autopilot and don't fill every waking moment with distractions.

Some might hope to find a solution in a self-help book, written by a person on the book jacket who is smiling, who supposedly has it all together. But the ultimate self-help book is the one written by the all-wise, all-knowing Creator. The reason His Word leads to real purpose is that unlike the self-help guru/author, God knows each of us intimately (Matthew 10:30).

Learning who He is and what He intends for us changes everything: it changes what we pursue in life and how we react to even tragic circumstances. Paul learned to be content even through beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and betrayal (Philippians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 11:23–27; Acts 16:22–25; 2 Timothy 4:16). We can do the same, regardless of our circumstances.

Put God first, and the rest of life falls into place.