Missing the Point? Purpose

Purpose is a hot topic, precisely because purpose matters.  Without purpose people live lazy, probably confused. Our energies and talents aren’t harnessed without purpose, which creates interior backwash and muddy waters.  

We were created on purpose with purpose, to image God’s person and dominion.  Not many of us would disagree with this. On the contrary we are likely to teach and proclaim it - God has a Purpose for You - Living on Purpose - No Purpose, no Point, etc.   

These messages are true enough, and they have the tendency to cause us to wonder what that purpose is and how do I find my purpose?  But we become focussed on purpose, or more specifically, my purpose. This still sounds appealing. Would not everyone be better off knowing their personal purpose, would not the world be better off if we all ran in our lanes?  I’d like to think so. 

But I have ask myself, have we made the purpose the point, instead of the means?  The means or motivation to do what? God’s will, which according to the New Testament isn’t that difficult to find, but which we have a habit of ignoring or complicating.  We ignore it because it isn’t convenient, and we complicate it by individualising everything - my call, my purpose.  

Most Christians throughout history haven’t had the luxury of choices we think we have. God’s will for them was to live the life of Christ wherever they discovered themselves to be, which Paul the apostle referred to as their calling.  It was hardly glamorous, often difficult, rarely able to be changed, and yet to these people is credited the roll out of the will and purpose of God through the centuries. Some died for it.  

Is it possible that purpose is found not by looking for it but by being obedient to the gospel and all that it implies?  Purpose is discovered in following Jesus, doing what he says.

Purpose would then inherently be found in a life of living for Jesus and living in his word.  It isn’t something I need to find as it will find me.  

Have we substituted the means for the ends?  And in so doing missed the point.    

By making a point of purpose have we missed the point of purpose?