LIFE is NOT about having experiences, but an IMPACT for Christ and His Kingdom.
1.What (then) is meant by, “life is not about having experiences” = The purpose/focus of your life (what gives it meaning and fulfillment) is NOT the accumulation of experiences – or making sure that you have as many good experiences (or different experiences) as possible (i.e. that the value of your life is established by the sum of your experiences). This view is best captured by the MODERN acronym “YOLO” (you only live once) or the Latin phrase, “Carpe Diem”(“seize the day”).
1.1. Modern generations however are not the first to think this way, it was the thinking of many in ancient times as well (Isa 22:13 – “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” = Seeing that one day we will die, we need to maximize the number of fun/good experiences we can have before then).
1.2. This mindset/philosophy of life becomes strongest when people believe there is no afterlife (e.g. 1Co 15:32; the rise of atheism in the world is a major reason this view has become so popular today).
* What living for experience looks like in our world today:
2.1. Feelings as the determining factor in a person’s commitment to anyone or anything (e.g. “life is short…feel good”).
2.2. Sex education in the public schools encouraging kids to “explore their sexuality”.
The more and varied sexual experiences you have the better your life wb (sexual experience is considered by some people to be a sign of their value. This is a biggest reason behind those who have willingly pursued careers as prostitutes: they view sexual experience as validation of their life – the fact that someone desires them in that way).
2.3. Marriage or monogamous relationships in general are viewed as a bad thing.
You are tied down to one person and therefore limiting your potential for other experiences.
2.4. The rise in people wanting to travel abroad.
The mindset behind this growing trend is that a person needs to experience as many cultures and places as possible during their lives if they are to feel they lived a full/complete life.
2.5. The rise in number of extracurricular activities children are involved in.
Many in the field of child development are now teaching that a child needs to have as many such experiences as possible to be whole/well-adjusted.
2.6. The sinful reactions of kids and adults to the idea of missing out on a desired experience.
Such an idea (missing out) is treated as tantamount to abuse that (therefore) justifies any/all forms of acting out/rebellion against it (e.g. cheerleader who buried her newborn baby in the backyard after giving birth b/c she allegedly did not want to miss out on prom and living the “perfect life” w/the perfect body).
* What (then) is meant by, “IMPACT for Christ and His kingdom” = The purpose/focus of your life (what gives it meaning and fulfillment) is using it – and the opportunities you are provided thru it, to have a positive impact for Christ and to advance His kingdom/fulfill His Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20). How then I assess the value of my life is also based on this —the impact am I having/had for Christ and His kingdom. This view is best captured by the Latin phrase, “Soli Deo Gloria” (“for the glory of God alone”).
The text that best drives this home as our purpose in living as Christians, comes from Jesus’ first public sermon (His Sermon on the Mount address – Mat 5:13-16) — which is where we WOULD expect to find such teaching SINCE understanding our purpose as Christians is IMPERATIVE to living the kind of lives that are pleasing to God.
(Mat 5:13-16) = These verses are all about living for IMPACT. The metaphors of salt, a city on a hill and light are being used by Jesus to show that as Christians our lives are to be having impact for Him and His Kingdom (versus living for experiences...
