Have you ever sat and thought about your purpose in life? This is a question we all need to think about but most don’t think about it at all. They live day to day planning events and enjoying life. Their purpose on this big ball we call earth seems to be lost in the pleasures of life. However, if we don’t repeatedly engage ourselves with this question, we may find ourselves missing out on the very purpose for which we were created.
We get so short sited by the cares of this world that we lose focus. We, as Christians, sometimes live as if everyone is a Christian, and all is right with the world. Unfortunately, we all know that is not the case. We are truly in the minority. All you must do to understand this is open your eyes. Christ gave us many commands about what we are to do while still alive.
Our lives are to bring glory to God no matter the task.
I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”
We are to be a witness for Christ, in our neighborhood, at work, on church outreach, and with family. We are to support those who go in Jesus’ name in foreign fields or in our country on the mission field. We support them with prayer and with our finances. You may feel you can’t give enough to make a difference, but “little is much when God is in it!”
Mark 16:15 – 16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned”
We are to take care of the widows that have no family. We are to take care of the orphans.
James 1:27a “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”
We are to take care of and honor those God has placed in authority in the church. Our Pastors are spiritual authorities in our lives. God has placed them there, and we need to take care of them, respect them, and the office they hold.
I happen to be very blessed with a great Pastor, so this is not a hard task. But there have been times in my life when I did not feel this was true. Did my questioning let me off the hook? No. I have a responsibility to obey God in all he has said. If I don’t feel I can obey, I need to find a Pastor that I do feel that way about. I can remember a time of praying for direction in this matter, but God would not let me seek another church. I now understand why I was to stay, but God didn’t reveal that to me until years later. He wanted obedience even when I didn’t understand.
I Thessalonians 5:12 -14 “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
I remember well a dear friend in Pittsburgh who was very grieved over the loss of her husband of 60 plus years. She said to me. “I have no purpose now, why am I still here?” To this, I replied, “do you believe God makes mistakes?” Her answer was “of course not.” I reminded her that if he didn’t make mistakes, he still had a job for her to do. I begin praying she would have an opportunity to share God’s love. It was only about a week that she called me to tell me she would be going out of town to visit her sister-in-law. The lady had also lost her husband and she nor her husband were saved. My friend asks me to pray that she would be able to share the gospel.
When she returned, she called and I could hear the joy in her heart. Her first words were, “I do have a purpose.” She had led this lady to Christ. Her first convert! At this point, she had been a Christian for over 70 years but had never prayed with anyone to receive Christ.
We all have a purpose that only we can fulfill. God has left us here for that purpose. We need to be obedient and get busy. When we have fulfilled our purpose, he will take us home to live with him!
