The True Meaning of Life!
Contributing to Humanity's Betterment Through Yeshua's Example
A Timeless Quest
In a world often clouded by confusion and self-interest, the quest for the meaning of life remains a timeless pursuit. For many, the answer lies not in personal gain or fleeting pleasures but in contributing to the betterment of humanity with a sincere heart. This profound truth finds its ultimate expression in the life and teachings of Yeshua, known to many as Jesus, who lived this principle to perfection. Rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures and ignited by His obedience to the Torah (the sacred law given to Israel through Moses), Yeshua’s life reflects God’s love in a way that bridges the ancient texts with a living hope for all. As His followers, the church is called to emulate this example, shining as a light to humanity through selfless love and service. Yet, too often, it falls short, leaving us to ponder how we might reclaim this vision.
In this exploration, we’ll delve into how Yeshua exemplifies the meaning of life through His Torah obedience, how He fulfills the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures, and what this means for the church today. We’ll weave together scriptural insights, scientific evidence, and real-world examples to illuminate this truth, inviting both seasoned students of Scripture and curious newcomers to reflect on its implications. Let’s begin this journey with open hearts and minds, seeking clarity and inspiration from the One who lived for the least among us.
Yeshua’s Life: The Perfect Model of Love and Service
Yeshua’s life was a masterpiece of selfless love and service, painted across the canvas of a broken world. Born in humble circumstances in Bethlehem, He walked among the marginalized, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and uplifting the downtrodden. His teachings, rich with compassion, challenged His followers to love their neighbors as themselves, even their enemies, and to find greatness not in power but in serving others.
Consider His words in the Gospel of Mark: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This wasn’t mere rhetoric; it was the heartbeat of His existence, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross. Every action (washing His disciples’ feet, comforting the grieving, feeding the multitudes) reflected a life poured out for humanity’s betterment.
What sets Yeshua apart is His unwavering obedience to the Torah. He observed the Sabbath, honored the festivals like Passover, and lived out the ethical commands with a depth that transcended legalism. In the Sermon on the Mount, He deepened the Torah’s intent, teaching that righteousness begins in the heart, anger equates to murder, lust to adultery (Matthew 5:21-28). His obedience wasn’t about checking boxes; it was about embodying the Torah’s spirit: love for God and love for others, as summed up in His affirmation of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 (Matthew 22:37-40).
Through this, Yeshua reflected God’s love perfectly. His life shows us that contributing to humanity’s betterment isn’t an abstract ideal but a tangible reality, lived out in acts of kindness and sacrifice. He is the model we’re called to follow, a beacon of purpose in a world adrift.
Fulfilling the Hebrew Scriptures: The Promised Messiah
The Hebrew Scriptures pulse with anticipation for a Messiah who would redeem Israel and bless all nations. Yeshua’s life fulfills these ancient promises with precision, weaving together prophecy, law, and hope into a seamless tapestry. Let’s explore a few key threads.
Isaiah 53 paints a haunting portrait of a suffering servant: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Written centuries before Yeshua, this passage finds its echo in His crucifixion, a death that bore humanity’s sins and offered reconciliation with God. While Jewish tradition often interpreted this servant as Israel collectively, Yeshua’s life aligns with the text’s personal, substitutionary language in a way the nation could not.[^1]
The Psalms offer further glimpses. Psalm 22, with its cry of abandonment and description of pierced hands and feet, mirrors Yeshua’s execution (Matthew 27:46). Psalm 41:9 foretells betrayal by a friend, fulfilled in Judas Iscariot (John 13:18). Psalm 16:10 promises that God’s “Holy One” will not see decay, pointing to Yeshua’s resurrection (Acts 2:27). These aren’t isolated proof-texts but part of a broader messianic expectation woven throughout the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible).
Beyond specific prophecies, Yeshua fulfills the Torah’s deeper purpose. The law, with its 613 commandments, revealed God’s holiness and humanity’s inability to attain it perfectly (Galatians 3:24). Yeshua, living sinlessly and offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, satisfied the law’s demands (Hebrews 10:10). He declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). In Jewish thought, “fulfill” (plērōsai in Greek) means to bring to full expression, He didn’t discard the Torah but revealed its heart: love, justice, and redemption.[^2]
Some might object: Didn’t the Messiah’s arrival promise immediate peace? Yeshua Himself acknowledged this tension, saying His first coming brought a sword, not peace (Matthew 10:34), signaling a kingdom inaugurated but not yet consummated. The Hebrew Scriptures envision both a suffering servant and a triumphant king, roles Yeshua fulfills across two comings, a concept rooted in Jewish eschatology.[^3] His life bridges the old and new, illuminating the Scriptures with clarity and grace.
The Church’s Calling: Reflecting Yeshua’s Light
As Yeshua’s followers, the church is entrusted with the sacred mission of continuing His work, living Torah-obedient lives that reflect God’s love and contribute to the betterment of humanity. This calling is not about rigid legalism but about embracing the very essence of the law: to love God with all our being and to serve others with selfless humility. When Yeshua washed His disciples’ feet, He set the standard for this humility, commanding them to follow His example (John 13:14-15). The early church grasped this truth, sharing resources and caring for the needy as a living testament to His love (Acts 2:44-45).
Yet, the church today is nowhere close to sharing this pure meaning of life; they are utterly missing the point. Far too many leaders, shamefully distracted by institutional agendas and bereft of deep scriptural grounding, have abandoned Yeshua’s radical vision. They cater to a privileged few, peddling shallow inspiration without substance, while ignoring the Torah’s wisdom and the call to serve the least among us. The church, meant to be a radiant beacon of light, has degenerated into a cloistered clique, hoarding its blessings and turning its back on the world it was commissioned to transform.
This failure is catastrophic. Yeshua declared, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14), yet the church has extinguished its flame, squandering its credibility and leaving society untouched by its presence. The hungry languish unfed, the lonely waste away unvisited, and injustice festers unchallenged, all while the church wallows in complacency and self-interest. This is not a mere stumble; it is a wholesale betrayal of Yeshua’s teachings and a disgrace to His name.
The roots of this collapse are deep and damning. Complacency has poisoned the church, with leaders prioritizing comfort over sacrifice. The lust for recognition has blinded them to the cries of the marginalized. And a profound failure to grasp and live out Yeshua’s teachings has reduced faith to a hollow shell: words without action, inspiration without transformation. The church has lost its way, and the world pays the price.
But this need not be the final chapter. The church can yet repent and reclaim its true calling, if it dares to face its failures head-on. This demands more than platitudes; it requires a ruthless self-examination, a return to the Scriptures, and a willingness to forsake comfort for the sake of service. Leaders and believers alike must reject the distractions of institutionalism and embrace the selfless love Yeshua modeled.
Imagine a church where every member, empowered by Scripture, feeds the hungry, visits the lonely, and fights injustice, not for praise but from a heart aligned with Yeshua’s. This is the church He envisioned: a body that embodies His love and reshapes humanity as He did. The chasm between this ideal and today’s reality is a clarion call to action. The church must awaken, repent, and return to its purpose, or it will fade into irrelevance in a world desperate for the light only Yeshua can provide.
Evidence Beyond Scripture: Science and Stories
This vision isn’t just theological; it’s practical and transformative. Science underscores the power of selfless living. Studies show that altruism boosts well-being: acts of kindness increase serotonin levels, reduce stress, and enhance life satisfaction.[^4] A 2005 study in the Review of General Psychology found that intentional generosity correlates with lasting happiness, echoing Yeshua’s life of giving.[^5]
Real-world examples abound. Mother Teresa, inspired by Yeshua, served India’s poorest, her love rippling globally. Lesser-known heroes, like the volunteers of Doctors Without Borders, brave war zones to heal, embodying sacrifice for humanity’s sake. Communities like the early kibbutzim in Israel, rooted in shared labor and care, reflect this ethos too: proof that living for others works.
These stories and data affirm that contributing to humanity’s betterment isn’t utopian; it’s wired into us, magnified in Yeshua’s example. The church, at its best, can amplify this impact, becoming a catalyst for good.
A Call to Live Like Yeshua
What is the meaning of life? It’s to contribute to humanity’s betterment with a sincere heart, a truth Yeshua lived perfectly. His Torah obedience reflected God’s love, fulfilling the Hebrew Scriptures and offering a model for us all. The church, though imperfect, is called to this same light, shining through selfless service.
I invite you to explore this for yourself. Dive into the Torah, the Prophets, the Gospels, see how Yeshua threads them together. Reflect on the evidence: prophecies fulfilled, lives transformed, science affirming service’s power. Then consider: How might you live like Him? A kind word, a helping hand, a stand for justice, small steps can echo His love.
The meaning of life isn’t in what we hoard but in what we give. Let’s strive to be like Yeshua, contributing to humanity’s betterment, one sincere act at a time. The Scriptures await your discovery, and the world awaits your light.
In the shadow of the cross, where love conquered death and grace triumphed over judgment, Yeshua unveiled the ultimate meaning of life: to live not for oneself but for the redemption and upliftment of all humanity, reflecting the very heart of God. By embracing this path, we not only find our own purpose but also become agents of divine love, illuminating a world in desperate need of hope and healing.
If you found this article insightful or helpful in your walk with Yeshua, please share it with others seeking biblical truth. Together, let’s grow in covenant faithfulness.
Shalom!
References
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131.
The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
Rashi’s commentary on Isaiah 53 (traditional Jewish interpretation).
Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66-77.
Footnotes
[^1]: While Jewish tradition often sees Isaiah’s servant as Israel, the singular, personal suffering in the text aligns strikingly with Yeshua’s life18:32-35).
[^2]: “Fulfill” in Matthew 5:17 reflects the Jewish concept of bringing Torah to its intended goal, not nullifying it (cf. Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:2).
[^3]: See Zechariah 9:9-10 for the dual imagery of a humble king and a conquering ruler, reconciled in messianic two-stage fulfillment.
[^4]: Neuroscientific studies link altruism to dopamine release, reinforcing Yeshua’s model of service as life-giving.
[^5]: Lyubomirsky et al. (2005) highlight how sustained altruistic acts outpace fleeting pleasures in fostering joy.
What you write is exactly true, and explained well. However, there is one major issue. None of us is able to do what you suggest. We need deliverance from sin.
But Yeshua provided for that as well. In the fulfillment of Shavuot, Yeshua asked the Father to send the Ruach Hakodesh to anyone who accepts who Yeshua is, repents of their sin, and gives his or her life to serve the Messiah. It works for Jew or Gentile, male or female, child or adult. The Holy Spirit comes to live in anyone who does this, writing the Torah on our heart—making it possible to be truly born of G-d and have our life gloriously transformed as a citizen of the Kingdom of G-d.
There is no other way to actually live out the Torah and become a living witness to the love of the Father who lived in Yeshua. This blessed man was enabled to sacrifice Himself for us by HIs perfect obedience. Yeshua's perfect submission to the Will of the Father fulfilled the covenants and enabled the New Covenant that was promised through Jeremiah. In this way, the Lord offers anyone, who accepts that Jesus is who He said He was, the power and the desire to live and thrive as a child of the Father. What Yeshua did, we are enabled to do. Alleluia!
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the Lord's gift and guarantee enabling us to live out the Torah and even more important—develop a close personal relationship with our Messiah. Both rebirth and the personal relationship are required to be a citizen of the Kingdom.