(Jhn)‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬-‭29‬, ‭35‬ ‭CJB‬‬ “Don’t work for the food which passes away but for the food that stays on into eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For this is the one on whom God the Father has put his seal.” So they said to him, “What should we do in order to perform the works of God?” Yeshua answered, “Here’s what the work of God is: to trust in the one he sent!” Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.”

Every man wants his life to matter. We want to build something, accomplish something, provide something, and leave something behind. That longing for significance isn’t necessarily wrong. We were created in God’s image. But sin has redirected that desire so that instead of finding our purpose in Jesus, we spend our lives building an image of ourselves.

That’s exactly what Jesus confronts in John 6.

Jesus had just fed thousands of people, and the crowd came looking for Him again. But they wanted more bread.

Jesus essentially told them: You’re working for something that won’t last.

How much of our lives do we spend doing exactly that?

Finding Purpose in Jesus Instead of Ourselves

Men pursue significance through careers, businesses, possessions, accomplishments, influence, pleasure, and recognition.

We tell ourselves, When I finally get there, I’ll be satisfied.

But “there” keeps moving.

Another promotion.

Another dollar.

Another accomplishment.

Another experience.

Another person’s approval.

None of those things can satisfy a soul created for God.

Then the crowd asks Jesus a question that sounds wonderfully spiritual:

“What should we do in order to perform the works of God?”

We might expect Jesus to give them a list.

Instead, He says:

“Here’s what the work of God is: to trust in the one he sent!”

Before Jesus gives us something to accomplish, He gives us Himself.

Christianity doesn’t begin with working harder for God. It begins by abandoning our self-righteousness and trusting completely in Jesus Christ.

Then Jesus makes the extraordinary claim:

“I am the bread which is life!”

Jesus doesn’t merely give us life.

Jesus is life.

Why Success Never Satisfies

Our problem isn’t simply that we want too much.

Often, we’re trying to satisfy an eternal hunger with temporary food.

Power passes away.

Money passes away.

Possessions pass away.

Recognition passes away.

Even our greatest earthly accomplishments will eventually be forgotten.

That’s why obtaining more of them never finally satisfies.

But Jesus says the person who comes to Him will never hunger and the person who trusts Him will never thirst. He’s describing the deepest satisfaction of the soul—the reconciliation with God and eternal life that only Christ can provide.

And when we receive Christ, something remarkable happens.

Our purpose changes.

We no longer have to build our own kingdom to prove that our lives matter. Jesus invites us into His kingdom and His purposes.

Paul calls us Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus calls us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19–20). And He teaches us to pray that our Father’s kingdom would come and His will be done “on earth as in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

That’s purpose in Jesus.

We know Him.

We love Him.

We obey Him.

And we spend our temporary lives accomplishing things that matter eternally.

Run Today’s Play

Ask yourself:

What am I working hardest to obtain right now?

Money? Recognition? Comfort? Achievement? Someone else’s approval?

Then ask the harder question:

Can it actually satisfy my soul—and will it matter eternally?

Don’t spend your life working for bread that perishes.

Come to Jesus. Trust Him. Know Him.

Then take the abilities, opportunities, resources, and responsibilities He’s given you and use them for His glory.

You don’t need to make your life significant.

Jesus already invited you into something eternal.

Stop building your kingdom.

Start living for His.