Knowing Your Main Purposes In Life

Disciple Makers Basic Training: Week 2

Q: What is my main purpose in life?

A: A Christian’s main purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Additionally, we have purposes determined by our gender and by our individual giftings and interests.

Why Am I Here?
Most of us have wondered why we’re here. After getting squeezed, toothless and witless into the atmosphere as infants, we soon begin to wonder about our purpose here on the surface. I know I did. After a while we might think about our exit. Then what to do in between. Willy Shakespeare wrote about such things in As You Like It.

Jacques: All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the canon's mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Life is more than advancing through stages, like an elevator rising up through the stories to return to the basement. It’s more than living to “eat, drink, and be merry” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) The Bible says that believers were chosen (predestined) even before the creation of the world to do good works (Ephesians 1:4). Amazing. It sounds like God has a purpose for us in mind.

In order to help you not waste your life, I offer three basic types of purposes that every Christian must consider. This information is an adaptation of a Vision Forum Ministries message by Doug Phillips on life purpose.

1. Universal Purposes
* Love God and love your neighbor (Matt 22:37-40)
* Glorify God and enjoy Him forever. (This is man’s chief end according to the Westminster Catechism question #1)
* Obey God and make disciples (1 Jn 5:2-3; Matt 28:19-20)

2. Gender Purposes
* Man is made in God’s image, yet they were made male and female (Gen 1:27)
* Man and wife are to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28; 9:1)
* Men are to be providers (1 Tim. 5:8), protectors (Pr 5:22-23; Pr 22:15; Pr 23:13-14; Matt 18:6), instructors of their children (Eph 6:4), and heads of households (Eph 5:22-23)
* Women are to be helpers (Gen 2:18; Pr 31) nurturers (Mal 2:15; 1 Tim 2:15) instructors of women & children (Pr 1:8-9; Titus 2:3-5)

3. Individual Purposes
* Children are to honor and obey their parents (Col 3:20)
* Children are be trained, instructed and discipled at home (Dt 6:7; Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4)
* Individuals are given a variety of gifts by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:4)
* Individuals must remain faithful to the Scriptures and to their relational commitments as they pursue their purposes
* Parents must be committed to the purposes of raising godly children, which should supersede and modify their desires for career advancement and personal status

It’s important to recognize that one’s individual purposes are subordinate to the gender and universal purposes established by God. A child may not justify a life purpose that denies the authority that is placed over him by his parents. An individual may not justify a life purpose that is contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Therefore, practices such as homosexuality, adultery and transgender identity cannot be legitimate life purposes for Christians, because these things are prohibited by Scripture (1 Cor 6:9; Ro 1:24-27). Women may not justify their desire to serve as leaders in the church as a life purpose for the same reasons, since Scripture forbids it (1 Tim 2:12).

If you find yourself resenting the call to submit your individuality to greater purposes, remember that being a disciple of Jesus means taking up your cross daily. It does not include carrying the your cultural tote bag of American individualism and feminism along with you. If you are to be a true disciple, you must let the Word of Christ dwell in you until you are willing to utterly trust the Lord at His Word and obey Him.

Here's a last word of encouragement. The sovereign God who has called you into His kingdom as a man, or woman, or child is faithful to complete the purposeful work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6).

Follow Up Assignments
1. Memorize the Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission: (Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 28:19-20)
2. Make a list of three things you'd like to accomplish in the next three years and why. Be ready to share your responses.