O sentido da vida: o que a Bíblia ensina sobre existir

O que a Bíblia ensina sobre a vida

A Bíblia define a vida como uma dádiva que se origina no fôlego de Deus e encontra seu sentido pleno em Jesus Cristo. Existir não é um acidente biológico nem um acúmulo de bens, mas uma caminhada de comunhão com o Criador que começa no ventre e se estende por toda a eternidade.

7 And Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.(Genesis 2:7)

13 For thou hast possessed my reins; thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all my members were written; during many days were they fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.(Psalms 139:13-16)

9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.(Psalms 36:9)

33 I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live; I will sing psalms to my God while I have my being.(Psalms 104:33)

6 Let everything that hath breath praise Jah. Hallelujah!(Psalms 150:6)

A vida plena e eterna em Cristo

No Novo Testamento, a vida humana alcança sua dimensão mais profunda quando ligada a Jesus. Ele não se apresenta apenas como alguém que ensina a viver melhor, mas como a própria vida: quem crê nele recebe perdão, transformação diária e a certeza da ressurreição.

6 Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me.(John 14:6)

10 The thief comes not but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.(John 10:10)

25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes on me, though he have died, shall live; 26 and every one who lives and believes on me shall never die. Believest thou this?(John 11:25,26)

35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst at any time.(John 6:35)

38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.(John 7:38)

3 And this is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.(John 17:3)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the act of favour of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)

20 I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but in that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)

A brevidade dos dias e a busca por sabedoria

A Escritura trata a existência terrena com realismo: os anos passam rápido e o vigor físico diminui. Longe de gerar desânimo, essa fragilidade serve de alerta para administrar o tempo com maturidade e buscar um coração prudente.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.(Psalms 90:10)

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may acquire a wise heart.(Psalms 90:12)

4 Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.(Psalms 39:4-6)

1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens:(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.(Proverbs 16:31)

15 See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.(Ephesians 5:15,16)

Prioridades e o perigo do apego material

Jesus adverte que a ansiedade por roupas, comida ou patrimônio sufoca o que realmente importa. A vida de uma pessoa não consiste na quantidade dos bens que ela acumula; ganhar o mundo inteiro não compensa perder a própria alma.

25 For this cause I say unto you, Do not be careful about your life, what ye should eat and what ye should drink; nor for your body what ye should put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than raiment? 26 Look at the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, nor reap, nor gather into granaries, and your heavenly Father nourishes them. Are ye not much more excellent than they? 27 But which of you by carefulness can add to his growth one cubit?(Matthew 6:25-27)

15 And he said to them, Take heed and keep yourselves from all covetousness, for it is not because a man is in abundance that his life is in his possessions.(Luke 12:15)

36 For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?(Mark 8:36)

34 And having called the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? 37 for what should a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man also be ashamed when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.(Mark 8:34-38)

2 And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Romans 12:2)

7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight;)(2 Corinthians 5:7)

Como conduzir a vida no dia a dia

Viver com sabedoria exige atenção constante às palavras, aos pensamentos e aos relacionamentos. O livro de Provérbios e as cartas apostólicas mostram que integridade, domínio próprio e busca pela paz sustentam uma vida saudável diante de Deus e do próximo.

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied.(Proverbs 4:10)

23 Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.(Proverbs 4:23)

17 Keeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.(Proverbs 10:17)

3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.(Proverbs 13:3)

27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.(Proverbs 14:27)

8 He that getteth sense loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.(Proverbs 19:8)

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.(Proverbs 21:21)

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.(Proverbs 27:19)

16 in that I command thee this day to love Jehovah thy God to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.(Deuteronomy 30:16)

12 Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be prolonged in the land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee.(Exodus 20:12)

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile; 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.(Psalms 34:12-14)

10 For he that will love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. 11 And let him avoid evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it;(1 Peter 3:10,11)

14 Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:(Hebrews 12:14)

11 and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your own hands, even as we charged you, 12 that ye may walk reputably towards those without, and may have need of no one.(1 Thessalonians 4:11,12)

23 Whatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as doing it to the Lord, and not to men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance; ye serve the Lord Christ.(Colossians 3:23,24)

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which He has promised to them that love him.(James 1:12)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;(James 3:13)

Confiança e proteção nas dificuldades

Mesmo nos momentos de dor e esgotamento, a oração dos salmistas lembra que Deus permanece como refúgio acessível. A paz diária não depende da ausência de problemas, mas da certeza de que cada passo é guardado pelo Criador.

6 Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of the days.(Psalms 23:6)

4 Make me to know thy ways, O Jehovah; teach me thy paths.(Psalms 25:4)

4 One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire of him in his temple.(Psalms 27:4)

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; and, for thy name’s sake, thou wilt lead me and guide me.(Psalms 31:3)

7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth mischievous devices to pass.(Psalms 37:7)

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.(Psalms 73:26)

93 I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast quickened me.(Psalms 119:93)

7 Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; he will keep thy soul. 8 Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in, from henceforth and for evermore.(Psalms 121:7,8)