Just Because

Sometimes when my kids get in trouble I ask them a really stupid question, "Why did you do that?" I don't know why I ask this because I know they probably don't know why, they're just kids. And also, they're already in trouble for the action, they won't want to get in trouble for their reasoning too. Because if Son hits Daughter and I ask "Why?" and he says "I was mad at her, and I wanted to get back at her." I probably wouldn't just shrug and commence punishment for the action. I would feel the need to give a lecture on why hitting is not a way to get even. So I completely understand why they say "Because". Or actually, they say "cuz", which drives me crazy for a completely different reason.
But I have come up with a pretty good comeback for the "cuz" answer which I think has backfired with my 2 year old, but that's another discussion. I usually say "Cuz is not a reason!" and then either demand a reason or commence punishment.
While I was pondering why I ask why, and why they say "cuz" instead of giving me a real reason, I started thinking about life and purpose. It seems that a lot of people are living life "just because". Parents are raising children "just because". Teenagers make bad choices and get in trouble "just because". Adults make bad choices and get in even bigger trouble, "just because". It doesn't seem like very many people have a purpose or a reason for their life. I see people wandering through life like the children of Israel wandered through the desert for 40 years. No purpose beyond that day, no goal beyond what is happening right now, no real reason for why they do things. They're living life "just because".
If you did a Google search (or Swagbucks search, as some may have it) on "The meaning of life" you would get 10,7000,000 results or more(I tried it, didn't win any Swagbucks). It seems everyone out there has their own opinion of the meaning of life. But what does God say our purpose is? Why are we here? Is it "just because"? Are we here because that's what happened in nature, and we'll live our life and die, and more people will live "just because"?
Mark 16:15 says "...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Simply put, our purpose in life is to tell other about the gospel; how Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, and is in Heaven preparing a place for us to last all of eternity.
What about our purpose as parents? So often I try to get through my day, going through the motions "just because" it's what I'm supposed to do. I forget why I have to do those things, and what my goal is in why I do those things. When I live my day "just because" I get more frustrated, because I can't understand why. I am more tired, because I have no real reason why I'm doing anything. I get more stressed out, because I'm wandering through the day, unconcerned about the effects of my actions.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 gives us clear direction for what our goal as parents should be. It tells us our reason for doing everything we do during the day, and a way to do it.
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Our goal as parents is similar to our goal as people, as children of God. It is to teach our children about the Lord, about His plan, and His Word. If we aren't doing that, we aren't fulfilling our purpose and we're living life "just because".
How frustrating it must be for God to see us living life "just because" when He has given us clear instructions on what we are supposed to do. I imagine how frustrated I get when I get the "just because" answer from my own children.
Lord, help my life to have purpose and direction. May I live each day for You because You gave me this life which I live. May I stand before You with a well-thought out life that accomplished much for you and not stand before you and say "just because". And thank you for my children who show me my own faults and for using them to bring me closer to You.