God's Purpose for You

Proverbs 20:5

The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

As we consider this Proverb, I want to look at it in the context of this definition for purpose:

The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc. (Dictionary.com)

This definition is what most people think of when we start to talk about purpose so it's a good place to focus.  This addresses the ultimate question:  Why do I exist?  Look at what Solomon says about that.  We have more than one purpose, our purposes are not always obvious, and our hearts can be a deep and mysterious place- even to ourselves.

I like how Solomon compares the purposes of  our heart to deep waters.  The other thing that can make detecting our purpose difficult is the fact that not only are those waters deep, they can also be quite muddy.  They can be muddied by any number of factors:  abuse, our own sinful lifestyle, a lifetime of failures, constant negative self-talk, etc.  Many times, the biggest challenge to understanding our life's purpose is ourselves.  We have put so much garbage into our own brains and hearts that it can be difficult to recognize what God's purpose is for us.  While this may be difficult to recognize, it seems that the Natural Knowledge of God also comes with the Natural Knowledge that He created each of us for a purpose.  Ask any child, "What are you going to do when you grow up?", and you will get any number of answers.  The one thing that every answer will have in common is that there is the underlying assumption that they are going to be great at it, and that they were born to do it.  St. Paul took upon himself to make sure that we know this, and that we don't forget it:

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So, if that is the case, then how do we find out what His purpose is for us and what are the good works that He has prepared for us? 

Solomon graciously answers this question for us:  a man of understanding draws them out.

Well, what does that mean?  Where do we get understanding?  What do we use to draw them out?

We get understanding from studying the Holy Scriptures.  The way that we draw out our purpose is by honing our thinking and behaviors against that stone of Scripture.  Once we have begun the process of being honed and shaped by God's Word, then we can use the intellect and reason that God has given each of us to assess ourselves and go to work at those good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

In his book PAiLS, Chris Brady gives us some questions to ask ourselves to help make the specifics even clearer.

1. Do you have a special calling?
2. Do you have a yearning to contribute in a certain area?
3. What are your passions?
4. What things do you do that fulfill you?
5. What things do you show an amazing affinity for?
6. What are things that you do that people are constantly praising you for?
7. What types of occupations allow you to do the things that you are passionate about?

Another way to identify and understand your purpose is to mentor with a competent, experienced Christian pastor.  When you look for a mentor be picky.  Don't settle for the first person that comes along.  

There is one very important underlying factor here:  mentoring and utilizing secular teachings on this subject must come after you have begun to hone yourself with God's Word.  It is very easy to be led astray by this quest if you do not have a strong foundation of Scripture.  Remember what I said in the above paragraph:  We get understanding from studying the Holy Scriptures.  This is the key to everything and never goes away.  Your God-given purpose will never be anything that contradicts Scripture.

Since the purposes of your heart are deep waters, potentially muddy waters, don't expect this to all come together over night.  This is a process.  It takes time.  The most important thing is to get started.  Right now.  Today.  The longer you wait, the less time you will have left to invest into your God-given purpose.  Here's how I suggest you get started:

1. Begin a program of daily studying God's Word.
2. Take some time and write out the answers to the seven questions above from Chris Brady.
3. Find a mentor.
4. Fall in love with learning and make your lifelong education a priority, and a habit.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

God bless

Jason Fredrick