What's Your Purpose?

 Do you know what your life's purpose is?  Have you thought about it lately?

Going through life without your purpose/mission clearly defined is like taking a trip to a place you have never been to without a GPS or a map.  It's actually worse than that.  It's more like starting a journey without clearly defining where you are going.  You're just traveling every day trying to get...somewhere.  Who knows where, but you're definitely going somewhere.  The problem with not defining your destination is that anywhere is just as good as somewhere else.

Clearly defining your purpose is like the traveler who knows exactly where he is going.

In Genesis 12:2-3 God directly gives Abram his life's purpose:

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 

God's purpose for Abram's life is quite clear:

1. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.

Abram would become wealthy and prosperous, but it would be because of God not because of his own intelligence or skill.  Also, Abram would have children.

2. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

God would make Abram famous among the neighboring people.  But Abram wasn't to use this fame for his own glory.  He was to use his fame and influence to be a blessing to the people around him.  Abram's great name has lasted longer than just his fame among his neighbors.  His name will be great for all eternity.

3. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.

God tells Abram that he is God's chosen one.  Anyone who helps Abram and treats him with respect will be blessed, anyone who does not will be cursed.  This is another promise from God that he would watch over and protect Abram.

4. all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

This is the promise of the Savior.  This is God telling Abram that he has been chosen for Jesus to come from his family line.  In this way, we have all been blessed though Abram.

That was Abram's purpose.  What's yours?  You can read about how Abram lived out this purpose in Genesis 12-23.  He didn't always do it perfectly.  But the Bible tells us that "his faith was credited to him as righteousness."

The best advice I can give you to help you discover your purpose is this: Read God's Word everyday, and think through these 3 questions from Jim Collins (Good to Great):

1. What are you deeply passionate about?
2. What can you be the best in the world at (and, equally important, what you cannot be the best in the world at)?
3. What drives you economic engine?

If you want more help I would suggest getting Orrin Woodward's book Resolved, the first resolution is Purpose.

Whatever you do, don't just ignore this.  Take some time and give it some serious thought.  Like Abram, God created you for a reason.  Your life has a purpose.  Take the time to figure out what it is and then live intentionally everyday.

God bless

Jason Fredrick