Fulfilling Our Purpose
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I think that you would agree with me, that when something is used for the purpose for which it was made, things turn out best. For example, a saw is made for sawing and a screwdriver is made for driving in, or loosening a screw. When used for the correct purpose, things turn out right. When used for the wrong purpose things turn out poorly. When we, as humans, live our life for the purpose God intended, we can make a difference in the world and we can fulfill our life’s destiny.
When is a saw most a saw…..when it is sawing of course? Specific saws are made to cut through specific materials. There are many unique kinds of saws. There are, rip saws, cross cut saws, saber saws, keyhole saws, chainsaws, circular saws, band saws, table saws, reciprocating saws, hack saws, two man saws and more. Each type of saw works best when it is being used for the purpose for which it was made.
The same can be said for a screwdriver. Screwdrivers come in many sizes and the heads are shaped and designed for specific types of screws. When used correctly the screw is easily fastened into place and/or easily removed.
This all makes sense when we are talking about saws and screwdrivers. Now let me ask you a much harder question: when is a human being most human?
A human being is most human when he or she is being used for the purpose which the Creator intended. When we fulfill our purpose, we can make a huge difference in the world.
We are most human when we are being what we were made to be. When we act in a manner consistent with being children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ, we are being the human being we were made to be. When we fail to act like God intended, we are like a saw or a screwdriver that is being used as a hammer.
If someone attempts to cut a steel bar with a saw made for cutting wood, two bad things usually happen. First, the saw will be unable to cut the bar and second, in the process of trying, the teeth on the saw will likely be ruined.
If a screwdriver is used for prying and chiseling, the tip of the screwdriver can easily become bent, twisted or broken. Eventually when that screwdriver is needed to loosen a screw, bad things again will happen. The screwdriver probably won’t stay in the slot of the screw and therefore, the screw will not come out. By trying to remove the screw with a damaged screwdriver, the screw itself could get stripped at which point no screwdriver, even a new one, will be able to remove the screw.
Okay, you get the analogy. So what happens in life then when we don’t fulfill our purpose for living? Humans were created by God, in His image. We were made both body and soul and God created us to be with Him for eternity. God desires that we worship Him through our faith, hope and charity. God wants us to love Him with all of our heart, to serve Him with all of our ability, and to, one day, when this life is over, be happy with a Him in Heaven forever.
When we fail to fulfill our purpose for life, things don’t turn out well. Both the saw and screwdriver in my example were damaged from misuse. When we fail to do the will of God and when we seek our own desires, our souls are damaged. When we persist in sin and avoid seeking the forgiveness of our Lord, we risk eternal damnation. In addition to damaging ourselves by failing to follow God’s plan, we also fail to serve His Kingdom, and therefore we fail others whom God has put in our path.
Heartache, pain, anxiety, broken relationships, guilt, sadness, and regret are some of the many negative effects of not living out the purpose for which God created us.
As we continue our journey through Lent, I want to challenge you to do some personal introspection. The following questions might lead you to answers that reveal a need for a change in direction in your life.
- Do you make every effort to truly know God?
- Do you truly love God above everything else in life?
- Is serving God the most important item on your list of things to do each day?
- Are you living your life, in such a fashion, that you know you are destined to be happy with God forever in Heaven?
To summarize all of these questions, I ask you again, are you fulfilling the purpose for which God made you? If you answered no to any of the four questions above, ask the Holy Spirit to help you make any necessary changes.
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that you made me to know you, to love you and to serve you and to one day be with you in paradise. Help me to identify and root out anything in my life that distracts me from the purpose for which you created me. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen!
As always, I love to read your comments below as well as hear from you personally by clicking here
Can I ask you for your prayers? My wife and I are participating in a 50 mile Challenge Walk to create awareness and raise funds to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. This walk will be held in Savannah, Georgia starting Friday March 2nd and concluding on Sunday March 4th. Hundreds of people who struggle with MS and their care givers will participate. Please keep us all in your prayers. To read more about this event you can click here.
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“The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
Thank you , Brian, for reminding us of the answer to the “why”question.
-Bob
Bob
That is a great quote. That should have been in today’s message. Thank you for adding it here.
God bless
Great analogy and challenging questions. Thank you. Hope the walk goes well
Jim
Thank you for both your post and for your support for the walk.
God bless