Since 2010 I begin every year reading (or listening) to Purpose Driven Life (by Rick Warren). I have read this best selling book more than any other book besides the Bible. I love it!
This book is simply a devotional book divided into 40 short chapters that deal with why you are on the earth. It is full of Bible verses and simple, practical help to live the Christian life. It has been so valuable to me.
I have also led Faith Baptist Church through two church-wide ’40 Days of Purpose’ campaigns (2005 & 2011).
Today (January 7), I read Day #7. It is a summary of the 5 purposes of every person – why you are on earth. It was so compelling, I want to share some of the highlights of the five purposes.
The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you. God made it all for His glory, Living for God’s glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives. Why? Because God deserves it! We owe Him every honor we can possibly give.
There are many ways to bring glory to God, but they can be summarized in God’s five purposes for life….
Worship. We bring glory to God by worshiping Him.
Worship is our first responsibility to God. We worship God by enjoying Him. C. S. Lewis said, “In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty. John Piper notes, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving Him, and giving ourselves to be used for His purposes. When you use your life for God’s glory, everything you do can become an act of worship.
Fellowship. We bring glory to God by loving other believers.
When you were born again, you became a part of God’s family. Following Christ is not just a matter of believing; it also includes belonging and learning to love other believers. John wrote, “Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life” (1 John 3:14). It is your responsibility to learn how to love as God does, because God is love, and it honors Him. Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-45)
Discipleship. We bring glory to God by becoming like Christ.
Once we are born into God’s family, He wants us to grow to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is becoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act. The more you develop Christlike character, the more you will bring glory to God. God gave you a new life and a new nature when you accepted Christ. Now, for the rest of your life on earth, God wants to continue the process of changing your character.
Ministry. We bring glory to God by serving others with our gifts.
Each of us was uniquely designed by God with talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. The way you’re ‘wired’ is not an accident. God didn’t give you your abilities for selfish purposes. They were given to benefit others, just as others were given abilities for your benefit.
Evangelism. We bring glory to God by telling others about Him.
God doesn’t want His love and purposes kept a secret. Once we know the truth, He expects us to share it with others. This is a great privilege – introducing others to Jesus, helping them discover their purpose, and preparing them for their eternity.
What will you live for?
Living your life for God’s glory will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one.
It’s time to settle the issue. Who are you going to live for – yourself or God? Right now, God is inviting you to live for His glory by fulfilling the purposes He made for you. It’s really the only way to live. Everything else is just existing. Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ.
You can read other articles about ‘Purpose driven’ living here: 4 R’s of Overcoming Temptation, A Place to Belong, 6 Reasons You Need a Church Family, Why Memorize Scripture, Finding Fulfillment.
I encourage you to take 40 days to discover your purpose and read Purpose Driven Life. Today the average life span is 28,725 days (78.7 years). That’s how long you will live if you are a typical American. Don’t you think it would be a wise use of time to set aside 40 of those days to figure out what God wants you to do with the rest of them?
Beginning February 21 (2015) we will have a small group going through ’40 Days of Purpose’ once more. Join them!