Chief End of Man

“What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

I used to think of the answer to that question as an obligation—that it is our duty to glorify God. And I still believe this is true. But there is a deeper truth—that as we come to know God, as we begin to grasp who He is, we are pierced, again and again, with awe and wonder and humility and gratitude. We are filled up to overflowing, and we cannot contain it. Glorifying God becomes less a duty and more a spontaneous reaction. And if that is true here on earth where we can barely glimpse Him, imagine how full our hearts will be, how overflowing and full of spontaneous praise we will be when He is before us!