‘The greatest tragedy in life is not dead, but a life without purpose.’ This a quote that I heard from a sermon from Rev. Myles Munroe. It stayed with me. The importance of a purposeful life is often misunderstood. There is a common misconception that purpose is one big task that you have to accomplish before you die. Nothing could be more further from the truth. The Bible teaches us the definition of purpose.
You can have a multitude of (evolving) purposes
Your purpose can change throughout your lifetime. Every moment, day, month, season, year or decade can have a different purpose. Purpose does not always have to with your job, like being a mother, musician or an accountant. You can have a multitude of (evolving) purposes next to your job. One purpose can lead you into the next purpose.
‘There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.’ – Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP
After God made man and blessed them He said: ‘Be fruitful’ (Genesis 1:28 AMP). We often think that this has to do with having children. The truth is: it doesn’t! Being fruitful in Hebrew (original Bible text) means to labor, to bring forth something. And that could literally be any activity where you bring something into the world. Something you do the way you do it. Let’s go a little deeper if you don’t mind.
In the New Testament you can read that carrying the fruits of the Spirit within us means: ‘love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law’ (Galatians 5:22-23 AMP). Being fruitful could have nothing to do with your current job description. But I do like to say this, most jobs (if not all) have to do something with (indirectly) helping others (hopefully in a good way).
‘The Lord has made everything for it’s own purpose. Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.’ – Proverbs 16:4 AMP
We have a common purpose
When Jesus called His disciples He said: ‘Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19 AMP). Right then Jesus gave these fishermen a new purpose, a task, a new goal to accomplish. And as followers of Christ we have a common goal. And that is to be fishers of men. Your goal, if you like it or not, always has to do with serving others. I’m not saying that self-care isn’t important, because it surely is. The way you take care of yourself is also the way you should treat others.
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ – Matthew 22:39 AMP
I hope that you now have a better understanding of purpose. If you don’t know your purpose right now. My advice would be to ask God to help you achieve your purpose. As I wrote above purpose can be given to any moment, day, week or year. Some purposes are made for a lifetime, not all. So stop trying to find ‘it’. Because your purpose is not just about one thing you should accomplish or about some big job. No, it has much more to do with knowing God, knowing yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses and carrying forth the fruits of the Spirit.
‘Without counsel purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.’ – Proverbs 15:12 KJV
‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’ – Mark 10:45 AMP
‘But He said: I must preach [the good news of] the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because I was sent for this purpose.’ – Luke 4:43 AMP
Know your Creator first
Living a purposeful life means living a life full of meaning. You know your Creator, you know why you were created, you know who you are as a person and you know the true meaning of what you are doing.
So many people walk around not knowing why they exist or have a false idea of who they should be. I’m praying for every person reading this text all the way to the end (thank you for that by the way) that you may find His purpose for your life. That you will live a meaningful life. That you may know your power in Jesus name. Your greatest gifts in life He has already placed in you. It’s time to rediscover who you are in God by knowing God. As you get closer to God He reveals more and more about you in order for you to do what you were created for.
‘Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.’ – Proverbs 19:21 AMPC
‘For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].’ – 1 Corinthians 2:16
‘For this is My Fathers will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.’ John 6:40 AMP
