Meaning in life comes from serving mankind. Significance in life doesn’t come from status, because you can always find somebody who’s got more than you. It doesn’t come from salary. It comes from humility, submission and service. It is in giving our lives away that we find meaning, we find significance. That’s the way we were wired by God.
In serving mankind look at what’s in your hand, what you have been bestowed with — your identity, your influence, your wealth — It’s about making the world a better place.
Moses goes out to the valley of Tuwa, and God talks to him. (Q' 20:19) And God says, “Moses, what’s in your right hand?” Moses says, “It’s a staff. It’s a shepherd’s staff. I lean on it. I use it to beat down leaves for my sheep and I have other uses for it ” And God says, “Throw it down.” He throws it down and it comes alive and is running like a serpent.. And then God says, “Pick it up.” He picks it up and it becomes a staff again.
“What’s in your hand?” I think that’s one of the most important questions you’ll ever be asked. What’s in your hand? What do you have that you’ve been given? And Almighty is saying, “If you lay it down, I’ll make it come alive. I will multiply it. I will do things you could never imagine. You got to sacrifice . You have to let go. We read in the Holy Quran La in shaker tum la azi dunna , 14:8 All this is for your benefit. This is my bounty to you. If you employ these benefits righteously, I will go on multiplying them for you.
All spiritual traditions emphasize detachment or Tabbatal. This does not imply material reality be held in contempt. It implies attachment to God and unqualified dependency on Him. Difficulties arise not because we have things but our possessions become our attachment. Sacrifice becomes difficult when we cannot detach ourselves . We must let go.
