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 YHWH God forms the man—dust from the ground, and breathes into his nostrils breath of life, and the man becomes a living creature.(Genesis 2:7)

13 For You have possessed my reins, || You cover me in my mother’s belly. 14 I confess You, because I have been fearfully distinguished. Your works [are] wonderful, || And my soul is knowing [it] well. 15 My substance was not hid from You, || When I was made in secret, || Curiously worked in the lower part of earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, || And all of them are written on Your scroll, || The days they were formed—And not one among them.(Psalms 139:13-16)

9 For a fountain of life [is] with You, || In Your light we see light.(Psalms 36:9)

33 I sing to YHWH during my life, || I sing praise to my God while I exist.(Psalms 104:33)

6 All that breathes praise YAH! Praise YAH!(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, if not through Me;(John 14:6)

10 The thief does not come, except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.(John 10:10)

25 Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection, and the life; he who is believing in Me, even if he may die, will live; 26 and everyone who is living and believing in Me will not die—throughout the age;(John 11:25,26)

35 And Jesus said to them, "I AM the bread of life; he who is coming to Me may not hunger, and he who is believing in Me may not thirst—at any time;(John 6:35)

38 he who is believing in Me, according as the Writing said, Rivers of living water will flow out of his belly";(John 7:38)

3 and this is the continuous life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him whom You sent—Jesus Christ;(John 17:3)

23 for the wages of sin [is] death, and the gift of God [is] continuous life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and that which I now live in the flesh—I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave 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, in them [are] seventy years, || And if, by reason of might, eighty years, || Yet their enlargement [is] labor and vanity, || For it has been cut off quickly, and we fly away.(Psalms 90:10)

12 Let [us] know to number our days correctly, || And we bring the heart to wisdom.(Psalms 90:12)

4 "Cause me to know, O YHWH, my end, || And the measure of my days—what it [is]," || I know how frail I [am]. 5 Behold, You have made my days handbreadths, || And my age [is] as nothing before You, || Only, every man set up [is] all vanity. Selah. 6 Only, each habitually walks in an image, || Only, [in] vain, they are disquieted, || He heaps up and does not know who gathers them.(Psalms 39:4-6)

1 To everything—a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens:(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

31 Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, || It is found in the way of righteousness.(Proverbs 16:31)

15 See, then, how exactly you walk, 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 Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you may eat, and what you may drink, nor for your body, what you may put on. Is not life more than nourishment, and the body than clothing? 26 Look to the birds of the sky, for they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into storehouses, and your heavenly Father nourishes them; are you not much better than they? 27 And who of you, being anxious, is able to add to his age one cubit?(Matthew 6:25-27)

15 And He said to them, "Observe, and beware of the covetousness, because his life is not in the abundance of one’s goods."(Luke 12:15)

36 for what will it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?(Mark 8:36)

34 And having called near the multitude, with His disciples, He said to them, "Whoever wills to come after Me—let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me; 35 for whoever may will to save his life will lose it; and whoever may lose his life for My sake and for the good news’ sake, he will save it; 36 for what will it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37 Or what will a man give as an exchange for his life? 38 For whoever may be ashamed of Me, and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He may come in the glory of His Father with the holy messengers."(Mark 8:34-38)

2 and do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God—the good, and acceptable, and perfect.(Romans 12:2)

7 for we walk through faith, not through 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 years of life [are] multiplied to you.(Proverbs 4:10)

23 Above every charge keep your heart, || For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.(Proverbs 4:23)

17 A traveler to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, || And whoever is forsaking rebuke is erring.(Proverbs 10:17)

3 Whoever is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, || Whoever is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!(Proverbs 13:3)

27 The fear of YHWH [is] a fountain of life, || To turn aside from snares of death.(Proverbs 14:27)

8 Whoever is getting heart is loving his soul, || He is keeping understanding to find good.(Proverbs 19:8)

21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, || Finds life, righteousness, and honor.(Proverbs 21:21)

19 As [in] water the face [is] to face, || So the heart of man to man.(Proverbs 27:19)

16 in that today I am commanding you to love your God YHWH, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, and His statutes, and His judgments; and you have lived and multiplied, and your God YHWH has blessed you in the land to where you are going in to possess it.(Deuteronomy 30:16)

12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged on the ground which your God YHWH is giving to you.(Exodus 20:12)

12 Who [is] the man that is desiring life? Loving days to see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, || And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn aside from evil and do good, || Seek peace and pursue it.(Psalms 34:12-14)

10 for "he who is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips—not to speak guile; 11 let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;(1 Peter 3:10,11)

14 pursue peace with all, and the separation, apart from which no one will see the LORD,(Hebrews 12:14)

11 and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly to those outside, and may have lack of nothing.(1 Thessalonians 4:11,12)

23 and all, whatever you may do—out of soul work—as to the LORD, and not to men, 24 having known that you will receive the repayment of the inheritance from the LORD—for you serve the LORD Christ;(Colossians 3:23,24)

12 Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation, because, becoming approved, he will receive the garland of life, which the LORD promised to those loving Him.(James 1:12)

13 Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? Let him show his works out of good behavior 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 kindness pursue me || All the days of my life, || And my dwelling [is] in the house of YHWH, || For [the] length of [my] days!(Psalms 23:6)

4 Your ways, O YHWH, cause me to know, || You teach me Your paths.(Psalms 25:4)

4 One [thing] I asked of YHWH—it I seek: My dwelling in the house of YHWH, || All the days of my life, || To look on the pleasantness of YHWH, || And to inquire in His temple.(Psalms 27:4)

3 For You [are] my rock and my bulwark, || For Your Name’s sake lead me and tend me.(Psalms 31:3)

7 Be silent for YHWH, and stay yourself for Him, || Do not fret because of him || Who is making his way prosperous, || Because of a man doing wicked schemes.(Psalms 37:7)

26 My flesh and my heart have been consumed, || God [is] the rock of my heart and my portion for all time.(Psalms 73:26)

93 I do not forget Your precepts for all time, || For You have quickened me by them.(Psalms 119:93)

7 YHWH preserves you from all evil, || He preserves your soul. 8 YHWH preserves your going out and your coming in, || From now on—even for all time!(Psalms 121:7,8)