QUESTION 1: What is the chief end of man?
ANSWER: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
Explanatory questions and answers:
Q. 1. What is meant by man’s chief end?
A. That which ought to be man’s chief aim and design; and that which he should seek after as his chief happiness.
Q. 2. What ought to be man’s chief aim and design?
A. The glory of God. 1 Chron. 16:28, 29 — “Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, — give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.”
Q. 3. What should he seek after as his chief happiness?
A. The enjoyment of God. Isaiah 26:8 — “The desire of our soul is to thy name, and the remembrance of thee.”
Q. 4. What connection is there between the glorifying God, and the enjoyment of Him?
A. They are connected by rich and sovereign grace, persuading and enabling the sinner to embrace Jesus Christ as the only way to God and glory. Eph. 2:8 — “By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” John 14:6 — “I,” says Christ, “am the way; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Q. 5. Does the chief end exclude subordinate ends?
A. No; for, in aiming principally at the glory of God, men may use the supports of natural life for refreshing their bodies. 1 Cor. 10:31; and be diligent in their particular callings, that they may provide for themselves and their families, 1 Thess. 4:11, 12; 1 Tim. 5:8.
Q. 6. Why ought the glory of God to be the chief end and design of man?
A. Because it is God’s chief end in man’s creation, preservation, redemption, and regeneration. Proverbs 16:4 — “The Lord hath made all things for himself;” and therefore it ought to be man’s chief end likewise. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20 — “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Selah.
NOTE: This explanatory edition of the Shorter Catechism is often called “Fisher’s Catechism,” as it began as the devotional exercises of one man who scanned, proofread, meditated on, taught from and generally fell in love with this priceless tribute to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Westminster Standards and Scottish Theology. It is presented now to the reader with prayers that the Holy Spirit will be pleased to use it to promote interest in sound theology and the “things above.” Col. 3:2
I will be sharing portions of this in the month to come, as a devotional exercise leading to Christ the King Sunday and Advent. Many blessings, friends!