Shorter Catechism Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Commentary: The “chief end” refers to our ultimate and primary goal, and so the Shorter Catechism begins by addressing the fundamental issues of life such as the reason for our existence and the meaning of life.
We were created to have fellowship with, to worship, and to serve our Creator, who is blessed forever! Life is about knowing, loving and enjoying God. It is not about us, other people, or the profits, powers and pleasures of this world. This is not to say that we shouldn’t love ourselves or love other people or make money (even lots of it) or exercise power or enjoy the comforts and pleasures of this life. We may have many subordinate goals, purposes, ends and enjoyments. But our chief end or goal and that which must shape and inform everything that we do, is the glory of God. We are to put God first and honor him in everything, even when we eat and drink.
We do not glorify God by making him more glorious because he is perfectly glorious and unchangeable. Rather, we glorify God by declaring his glory and greatness through our thoughts, affections, words and actions. In other words, we glorify God by being and doing what we were created to be and do.
Perhaps we could illustrate this with a dog who is bred and trained to hunt rabbits. If the dog is not of show quality, bites his master, and refuses to follow the scent of the rabbit, then that would reflect poorly on the breeder and trainer. But if the dog is beautiful, obedient and an excellent hunting dog, then that would bring praise, honor, and glory to the breeder and trainer. Likewise, we glorify God and cause others to do so by properly using our gifts and graces and by obeying our Creator and Lord.
Glorifying God, however, should not be divorced from a loving relationship with God. We aren’t robots, but personal human beings created in the image of God. We are made for a personal, loving, prosperous relationship with God, which is why our chief end includes enjoying him. A true, meaningful, satisfying life is one that is obedient, but also one that loves and delights in God. As Augustine once put it, “you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”