The Adventure of A Meaningful Life

Bilbo Baggins is a wealthy hobbit who lives at the top of the Shire in Bag End. He has a cozy little life filled with doilies and fancy cheeses. His walls are lined with paintings of his relatives, and his cupboards are stocked with their dishware. The wildest thing Bilbo does is enjoy a little Old Toby pipe tobacco in his spare time.

Until one day a wizard named Gandalf shows up at his door looking for someone to share in an adventure. Bilbo isn’t interested.

In his own words, adventures are “nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things that make a person late for dinner.” He runs off, adamant that he wants nothing to do with adventures, locking the door firmly behind him.

That night, sent by Gandalf, a gang of dwarves arrives. Though Bilbo would prefer not to let them in, he doesn’t really have a choice. They make themselves right at home: putting their feet on the tables, eating his food, soiling his doilies, cracking his plates, and making the most disturbing noises.
Eventually Bilbo learns about the great adventure the dwarves are about to undertake. They try to recruit him, but he repeats that he wants nothing to do with adventures. Late that night he goes to bed, distraught over the state of his quaint little house.

But the next morning he wakes up and the dwarves are gone. It’s as if they were never there at all. Almost. A contract waiting for his signature sits on his table.

And in that moment Bilbo realizes something. His comfortable, predictable life suddenly feels small and meaningless. He grabs the contract, packs a bag, runs out the door, and shouts to the people of the Shire, “I’m going on an adventure!”

And what an adventure it is! There will be magic rings, dragons, elves, orcs, and wars. When Bilbo finally returns home, he’s still a hobbit… but he’s a hobbit who has been forever changed by the great adventure he went on.

Let’s face it: life can feel monotonous sometimes. We get stuck in the routines of everyday life. The same schedule. The same responsibilities. The same problems. And sometimes we can start to feel like Bilbo, living a boring or even meaningless life.

We could all use a little adventure.

Tomorrow we’re going to look at the call of Elisha and discover the great adventure God calls us into. If you’re feeling stuck, bored, purposeless, or some combination of all three, join us for worship tomorrow.

I can’t wait to tell you about the great adventure that awaits you… if you’re willing to go on it.