Living with a Purpose
Have you ever struggled with understanding your specific purpose in life? If you are like me, you will answer a resounding “Yes!” Many people struggle throughout their lives to know, understand, and fulfill their purpose. Part of this lack of understanding of our individual purpose stems from an identity crisis. When a person is not sure who they are they will be unsure of their purpose.
Pastor Don Holliday recounts the story of Abraham Lincoln (1). Many years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president, he was a storekeeper. Abe had a rifle displayed in his store that was one of the most beautiful rifles ever made, put together by a world-famous gunsmith. The price was extremely reasonable. Displayed next to this attractive gun with its impeccable steel barrel and the shiny walnut stock was a rack of ordinary squirrel rifles. These long-barrel rifles were made from ordinary gun steel and plain wooden stocks. Yet, the price was higher.
A customer entered the store looking for a new rifle. He was impressed by the fine-looking gun but was confused as to why it was priced much lower than the less attractive rifles. Abe explained that the good-looking rifle was for show, while the others were for shooting. The pioneer bought the Kentucky squirrel rifle.
A little while later, a rich farmer was decorating a room in his country mansion. He wanted to place a gun over the fireplace mantle with his big game trophies. Abe’s fancy gun was exactly what he needed. The fact that it would not shoot was irrelevant. The purpose of the gun had changed.
God has given each of us a purpose, too. Our purpose is directly tied to our identity and our identity is connected to the one who created us. Just as each gun was intentionally made by its manufacturer for a specific purpose, you were created by God with a specific identity for a specific purpose.
So many believers do not live to their full potential because they struggle with identity.
Paul, writing to his disciple Timothy in 2 Timothy begins his letter with a standard introduction. In this introduction, Paul illuminates for us several aspects of identity and purpose that can assist us in living out our lives for the glory of God.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus:2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. (vv.1-3)
In this short introduction, Paul helps us understand several important principles to help us live out our purpose.
1. God has chosen you to fulfill a special calling.
Paul begins his letter by noting that he was called to be an apostle. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.” God chose Paul, which lets us know that God created Paul with intentionality and purpose.
Just like Paul, you have been created by God with intentionality and purpose. God has chosen you for a specific task in his kingdom. God chose Paul to be an apostle and just like Paul, God has chosen you to have an impact in this world. Rest assured you have been created with a purpose.
2. God has given you unique gifting to fulfill your special calling.
Paul was chosen by Christ to be an apostle and in order to fulfill the role of an apostle, God gave Paul specific giftings. In verse 11 of this same chapter Paul says that he is a preacher and teacher of the Good News.
I do not know what God has called you to in his Kingdom or his church, but I know he has called you to a specific area of service and ministry. Just as God gave Paul his giftings to fulfill his purpose, God has given you giftings to fulfill your call. You may wonder what those giftings are and there are several ways to discover your giftings.
First, press into God’s word. The word of God reveals God’s will in our lives. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where you can serve. Third, serve somewhere. One of the best ways to discover what you are good at is to serve. As you serve you will discover both what you are passionate about and what you are gifted at. Don’t wait to serve until you have all the answers figured out. Jump in and serve now!
3. Your special calling helps fulfill the Great Commission.
While each of us has a specific gift to be used in a specific way in the church, all our gifts are to be used in a larger sense to help fulfill the Great Commission. Paul says he was “an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus.”
Paul recognized his gifts fit into the larger framework of the promise of life in Jesus. This promise comes through the gospel message. Each of us are called to use our gifts to help lead others to Jesus. Think about your life right now. How are you allowing your relationships, vocations, hobbies, and church activities to lead others to Jesus? When we use the gifts God has given us in the way God intends, we can help others to eternal life in Jesus.
4. Using our giftedness the way God intends, brings a sense of fulfilled purpose in life.
We all want to know we are fulfilling our purpose in life. One of the blessings of living out our purpose in life is having a sense of contentment and peace with ourselves and God. Paul shows us this when he says, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience.”
We can live with a clear conscience when we are living out our purpose, using our gifts to glorify God and serve his church. When we are at odds with our conscience, we often find ourselves living opposite of that which we know to be right or true. When we fail to use the gifts that God has given us in the way he intends, we are at odds with our conscience and the Holy Spirit who resides in each believer.
Do you desire a sense of fulfillment and contentment?
Use your giftedness the way God intends.
We can choose to use our giftedness to walk in our purpose, and in doing so we will have a clear conscience and God will receive glory. Are you using the gifts God has blessed you with to fulfill your purpose? Are you sharing the message of Christ as God gives you an opportunity?
You can have a clear conscience, a sense of purpose in life, by using your gifts to serve God. Make a commitment to walk in your giftedness and watch how God will bring you a sense of peace, contentment, and joy.
Father, thank you for creating me. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and giving me a gift to serve you and your church. Help me to discover and use my gift for your glory. Use experiences, the input of others, your Word, and your Spirit to reveal to me the areas I am called to serve. Use me for your glory. Amen.
In His Grace,
Pastor Brad
(1) Pastor Don Holliday, The Scocaster, September 27, 1998 — (10,000 Sermon Illustrations