What’s My Purpose?

By now we have established who we are and how to be strong in our identity, so let’s unpack why we are even here in the first place. What’s our purpose? As a species here on earth our role as humans is to worship God and to care for this earth.

‘ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”’ Revelation 4:11

You may be thinking “that’s all fine and dandy but how does that apply to me?” or “If we were all created to worship God, does that mean our only objective in life is to stand there and sing about God all day?” I wish, but not exactly because there are a million ways to worship God, it doesn’t have to just be singing.

The bible also says that we have another purpose in life; to be fruitful and multiply and to have dominion over the earth.

‘And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ‘ Genesis 1:28

The way we live our life and the content of our life plays out our role to worship God and take care of the earth. I bet you never thought of it like this before, but what is on earth? Humans, plants, animals, dirt, water, etc. 

Let’s start naming some occupations; doctor, gardener, veterinarian, farmer, fisher, waitress, Marine Biologist, lawyer… Hey wait a second, every single one of those relates to a part of the planet. Some take care of humans, some take care of animals, some take care of the actual earth. 

So, as you see, our lives reflect the mission of taking care of the earth. Even if someone is not a Christian they may still participate in caring for the earth and its inhabitants. How we go about doing that, can reflect the mission of worshiping God. Meaning, do you do everything to the Glory of God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ‘ 1 Corinthians 10:31

So okay but what does it actually mean? Did you know that God created every single human being with a unique calling and purpose for their life? Did you know that God planned every moment of your life in order that you have the option to glorify Him in everything? 

We talked about that in one of our earlier studies when we went over the verse in Psalm that says He knit us together in our mother’s wombs and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. All of those verses aim to help us understand that God has something special in mind for every one of us. It is up to us to figure out what that calling is. That’s why we are here. 

Does that mean God is a selfish narcissist who made us just to worship Him? I mean, no but a little yes. He did create us so He does get the privilege to be a little selfish. But not at the expense of us, no, rather at the benefit of us. There are tons of health benefits of worshiping God, whether it is emotional or physical, worshiping God gives many benefits. But all that aside, let’s go back to this idea of having a unique calling on our life.

You see, a calling is usually something that you cannot explain, it usually comes out of the blue and is the one thing you did not expect. The reason being, that it is God who gives you the calling and it is by His power that you are able to accomplish this. 

A passion is something you long to do and is often fueled by your ability and desire. A passion is the heart’s desire, a calling is the soul’s desire. One is of the flesh, the other is of the Spirit. Not that a passion is a bad thing, in fact it can be God given.

I’ll use my life as an example. Growing up I took dance classes, and as I got into my late teens I grew to recognize it as a passion. I really loved dancing, and I had even discovered a way to make it into a ministry. But slowly as time went on I started to feel drawn towards writing devotionals and spiritual lessons. 

I found myself feeling this necessity to write down what I thought. I have kind of always been a bit of an overthinker but usually with nothing profound or particularly intelligent. But as I went through some struggles in my own faith journey, I found a pull to share my thoughts, whether offensive or positive. 

Although I do hate making waves and being controversial and confrontational. But here I was being pulled to find scriptures and share the things I was discovering that opposed the world’s opinion on things. 

I never really thought myself to be clever with words, but when I am writing, there is a feeling that comes over me and the words just pour out of me. Things I’ve never considered before, things that I would wager to say are too profound to be coming from me. 

But then in an instant the feeling is gone, and nothing comes out. I can’t force anything and when I do, it’s a jumbled mess and sounds terrible. This, I believe, is the work of the Spirit. I feel different when studying God’s word and writing about it.

God designed us all for a reason, sometimes we never know the reason, sometimes He places it in our spirit to pursue His calling. Often we choose not to pursue His desire for us. But when you have a calling, only a fool would ignore it. I cannot claim to be wise, I can only claim to be a vessel which I am leaving in God’s hands. I cannot argue with this feeling, I can only trust it and pray that God uses me how He wants to.

That’s an example of a calling. So my challenge to you is for you to really think about yourself and your life, is there anything you feel compelled to do that really does not make sense other than it being from God? Is there anything that gives you a fulfillment and a satisfaction that cannot be explained, then that is likely a calling. Sometimes it means you have to go against the grain a little.

There is this concept that we as Christians often struggle with, and that is the idea of good or best. When presented with opportunities or paths, are we looking at what is good, or best? Good may be just exactly what you want and includes everything you would like, it may even be a form of ministry. But best is always the way that God is calling you to, it may not be your preference but it will turn out best for you in the end.

Alright so we’ve established why we were put on this earth and some of the ways we can glorify God here on earth, but let’s dive even deeper into our purpose. We’ve talked about some careers that are available that can help us in taking on a role of caring for the earth and worshiping God, but what we also have a calling and a role inside the church.

‘As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ‘ 1 Peter 4:10-11

‘Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. ‘ 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

‘For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. ‘ 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

‘Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.’ 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

‘What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. ‘ 1 Corinthians 14:26

‘For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ‘ Romans 12:4-8

These verses talk about our roles within the church and the different ways that the Spirit can use us. But I want you to seriously think about these gifts given to us Christians. This is something that is a powerful tool in the ministry of God. However, it is not uncommon to never tap into or discover your gift. 

The church operates and thrives off of people who embrace their gifts and serve the church in that capacity. Just think of the most obvious one, if a person feels the calling to become a pastor (apostle) but does not pursue it, there is a church out there someone who needed him at their pastor. But because he did not follow through, there is a church lacking. Or if someone feels the call to teach within the church, and they choose not to, then kids don’t get the experience of children’s church or church class. The church needs people to step out on faith and pursue their gifts that God gave them.

I encourage you to earnestly pray to God to give you a gift of the Spirit. I want to be very clear though, these gifts are not given to just anyone. You must first be filled with the Spirit and genuinely seeking God with your whole heart. You cannot properly encounter your Spiritual gift if you are focused on things of the flesh and living selfishly.