According the Westminster Shorter Catechism: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The majority of professing Christians probably wouldn't answer the question in that way. Many wouldn't think "glorifying God" was all that relevant today.
What has got me pondering this subject is the following quote from John Owen. God, in His plan for the redemption of a people, was very much concerned with His glory. When the gospel is presented in any other way, it robs Him of that glory.
" The end of the dispensation of grace being to glorify the whole Trinity, the order fixed on and appointed wherein this is to be done, is, by ascending to the Father’s love through the work of the Spirit and blood of the Son.
The emanation of divine love to us begins with the Father, is carried on by the Son, and then communicated by the Spirit; the Father designing, the Son purchasing, the Spirit effectually working: which is their order. Our participation is first by the work of the Spirit, to an actual interest in the blood of the Son; whence we have acceptation with the Father.
This, then, is the order whereby we are brought to acceptation with the Father, for the glory of God through Christ:—
1st. That the Spirit may be glorified, he is given unto us, to quicken us, convert us, work faith in us, Rom. viii. 11; Eph. i. 19, 20; according to all the promises of the covenant, Isa. iv. 4, 5; Ezek. xi. 19, xxxvi. 26.
2dly. This being wrought in us, for the glory of the Son, we are actually interested, according to the tenor of the covenant, at the same instant of time, in the blood of Christ, as to the benefits which he hath procured for us thereby; yea, this very work of the Spirit itself is a fruit and part of the purchase of Christ. But we speak of our sense of this thing, whereunto the communication of the Spirit is antecedent. And, —
3dly. To the glory of the Father, we are accepted with him, justified, freed from guilt, pardoned, and have “peace with God,” Rom. v. 1. Thus, “through Christ we have access by one Spirit unto the Father,” Eph. ii. 17. And thus are both Father and Son and the Holy Spirit glorified in our justification and acceptation with God; the Father in his free love, the Son in his full purchase, and the Holy Spirit in his effectual working.
All this, in all the parts of it, is no less fully procured for us, nor less freely bestowed on us, for Christ’s sake, on his account, as part of his purchase and merits, than if all of us immediately upon his death, had been translated into heaven; only this way of our deliverance and freedom is fixed on, that the whole Trinity may be glorified thereby.
Though our reconciliation with God be fully and completely procured by the death of Christ, and all the ways and means whereby it is accomplished; yet we are brought unto an actual enjoyment thereof, by the way and in the order mentioned, for the praise of the glorious grace of God."
This glorious plan of God was accomplished "from the foundation of the world" to the praise of His glorious grace. We should bow before Him in humble gratitude, joyfully proclaiming that all glory indeed belongs to the Sovereign and Holy God. What horrid, unthankful, despicable creatures we are - arrogantly attempting to claim the smallest portion of the glory due to the Creator for ourselves. Tis true, fallen man is like his father, the Devil.
Lord, forgive us for all the times we have foolishly claimed for ourselves that which belongs only to you.
Grant us more grace, for only your grace can transform us from the image of the first Adam, into the image of you perfect Son.
Amen,
