In today’s world, it’s so hard to find your ‘purpose’. The media tells us one thing, our families tell us another, and the Bible tells us yet another. The media tells us that our purpose is to be successful, to have a good job, a good car, a good house. Our families tell us (sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally) that our purpose is to find someone we love, settle down and have a family of our own. But the Bible tells us something entirely different.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism’s first question is imperative. That’s why it’s the first. Everything else in the catechism builds off of it. But the question is as follows:
1. What is Man’s primary purpose?
A: Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
There it is. Your purpose.
But, naturally, it’s not as simple as that. Not as simple...but still not too hard. The hard part is implementing. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but that can happen in different ways. It doesn’t mean we all line up singing ‘hallelujah’ in church 24/7. It means that in your job, behave in a way that is glorifying God. In your behavior, rejoice in the goodness and grace He has shown you. And you can especially achieve your purpose in your passion.
Everyone has a passion. Whether it’s writing, drawing, helping others, or blogging about nerdoms. There’s something that you LOVE to do, and that’s where you can really fulfill your purpose. Your passion doesn’t need to be your job. If it is, that’s great! But even if you have a passion for creating videogames and you’re working at a grocery store, even if you have a passion for designing beautiful new clothes and you’re working at Walmart, you can still fulfill your purpose. Create videogames that challenge a player’s perception of man and God, design clothes for the homeless that will stand up to more wear and tear.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) :
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
This is easy in idea. Difficult in implementation. Living with purpose takes effort. When you want to just veg on the couch for hours on end, you need to limit your relaxing time and then work on your purpose. Relaxing is good, it’s necessary; we all need time to chill. But you and I both know that we spend way too much time on Netflix, Tumblr, and Facebook than we really should. Living, truly living, takes effort. That’s why it’s so worth it.
The only thing you can find your purpose in is God. Everything else will fail you. People will fail you, money will fail you, possessions will fail you. But God remains through all of it. God created you. He loves you. You might not see it all the time, or feel it all the time, but He truly does. The love you have for the most important person in your life is a drop in the ocean compared to God’s love for you. He created you with passions, likes, dislikes, and a will to live.
So go out there and live. Live with purpose, live with passion. Do it all for the glory of God, and you will find a joy unspeakable filling your life, and in the hard times, you will discover a rock of understanding that will always be there for you to lean on.
Live.
