The Westminster Larger Catechism

Q1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God,[1] and fully to enjoy Him for ever.[2]

Proofs
[1] Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31;  [2] Psalm 73:24–28; John 17:21–23.

Comments

Like the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism comprises three parts: The Prologue (Q. 1–5); What Man Ought to Believe Concerning God (Q. 6–90); and What the Scriptures Require as the Duty of Man (Q. 91–196).

Those who are familiar with the first question of the Shorter Catechism will no doubt notice that it is a condensation by way of removing an adjective (“highest”) and an adverb (“fully”) from this first question.

The Shorter Catechism asks: “What is the chief end of man?”, emphasising the main purpose for man’s existence from the perspective of God’s design. Here it is additionally noted that this same main purpose of our existence is also the most glorious and noble reason of our existence. A man may think of many reasons why he exists. Some wrongfully conclude that there is no real purpose in life for they exist only by chance (life evolved by chance, they say). Others, thinking more narrowly, conclude they exist for the good of society, for the continuance of their family name, etc. But the Word of God teaches us plainly, that man is created primarily for the glory of God: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever” (Rom 11:36). And man can only find fulfilment and meaning in his life when he is conscious of being used of God to glorify Him.

To glorify God, of course, does not mean adding to God’s glory, for He is already perfect. It means acknowledging His glory and greatness by our lives and manifesting His glory to other rational creatures. Yes, since God is sovereign, even the destruction of “the vessels of wrath” (Rom 9:22–23) does ultimately display His glory. But this is not what our Catechism is emphasising, it is emphasising, rather, what man ought to aim for in life, or, in other words, how man ought to make use of the life that God has given him. One who lives without any conscious effort of exalting God is ungratefully abusing his life, and incurring God’s wrath and curse.

On the other hand, one who is consciously seeking to glorify God will also enjoy God and find God to be his chief happiness both in this life and in the life to come. Yes, in this life, no man can enjoy God fully because of indwelling corruption, but such as are glorifying Him in this life will fully enjoy Him one day; and conversely such as do not enjoy Him today will find heaven a torment were he to be brought to heaven (which is impossible).

But how to glorify and enjoy God? We must glorify and enjoy Him according to the means He has appointed. Firstly, as God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, our discovering who God truly is through His own Word glorifies Him and thrills our souls. Secondly, as God deserves our praises, so when we worship Him sincerely and gratefully, we glorify Him: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Ps 50:23a; cf. Heb 13:15). When we do so, we will at the same time enjoy Him just as we derive happiness when we bring joy and honour to one to whom we feel indebted. Thirdly, as God’s greatness and glory is eclipsed by sin in this present world, we glorify God by showing “forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:9b). This we do by lovingly living according to God’s commandments, and by testifying to others by words and deeds of God’s glory. Again, the child of God will derive happiness doing so because his God is magnified.