A SATISFYING LIFE How to Attain It

6. Why Did Jehovah Create Us? 

WHAT will getting to know Jehovah mean for you?  Among other things, it will mean finding the answer to a question that puzzles billions:  'Why am I here?'  You may have wondered  about that at one time or another.  A wise king who had riches  "greater than all the other kings" of his day examined that question concerning the meaning of life.   (2 Chronicles 9:22; Ecclesiastes 2:1-13) This king, Solomon, had at his disposal great power, abundant riches, and incomparable wisdom.  What was the result of his exploration?  "The conclusion of the matter, everything being heard, is;  Fear the true God and keep his commandments.  For this is the whole obligation of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)  Since the extent of Solomon's experience surpasses that of most people, his conclusion is at least worth our consideration.  -Ecclesiastes 2:12. 

The fear of God to which Solomon referred is not a morbid fear of an unknown spirit force. Rather, it is a wholesome dread  of displeasing someone you dearly love. If you love a person deeply, you certainly want to please that person  at all times and avoid doing anything that might offend him.  As you come to love Jehovah, you will feel the same way about him. 

By reading the Bible, you can learn about our Creator's likes and dislikes as well as his purpose in creating the earth. Describing Jehovah as "the Former of the earth and the Maker of it," the Bible also calls him "the  One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45:18) Jehovah prepared the earth to be inhabited by humans, who were to look after the earth and all the creatures on it.  (Genesis 1:28) But was that the only purpose in Jehovah's creating humans-to be caretakers?  

Next time: A SATISFYING LIFE How to Attain It -Conclusion of Why Did Jehovah Create Us? 

From the Watchtower magazine