A rich man was determined to give his mother a birthday present that would outshine all others. He read of a bird that had a vocabulary of 4000 words, could speak in numerous languages and sing 3 operatic arias. He immediately bought the bird for $50,000 and had it delivered to his mother. The next day he phoned to see if she had received the bird. “What did you think of the bird?” he asked. She replied, “It was delicious.” – Source Unknown.

A. WRONG PURPOSE

• Sex. Pleasures.  “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:  that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
• Success. FAME. Power. Knowledge.  Mark 8:36, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
• Silver. FORTUNE. Money. Materialism. Jobs.  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

 B. RIGHT PURPOSE

Purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

• Purpose gives meaning to life.
• Purpose simplifies life
• Purpose gives focus to life
• Purpose motivates your life
• Purposes prepares you for end of life

 QUOTES

• Sign on door: “Gone out of business. Didn’t know what our business was.” – 1963 — University Christian Church. in NY.
•  Yogi Berra: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up someplace else.”
• “A person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder–a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.” – Thomas Carlyle.
• “More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” – Billy Sunday

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

1. Listen to God.  Pray, ask God to reveal your purpose to you. Let God be God.  He is good at being God. As the Creator, he is in the business of revealing the purpose for which He created you, His creation! Your plans might be good, but let God show you His purpose.  Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
2. Listen to your heart.  What frustrates you? Often, the issues you see as wrong are the exact areas where God wants you to work.  If you are frustrated by lack of organization around you, maybe God wants you to use your organization skills to improve your surroundings.  Your passion is consequently tied to your purpose.  Discover your passion, you discover your purpose. When you notice what no one else notices; when you are mad about what bothers no one else, you are the right person to fix the problem.

What fires you up?  What is it that when you talk about, your voice is elevated, your eyes become big, and you get excited?  You purpose could be in those areas where your passion lies.

3.   Listen to others.  Ask for advice from others.  Better still, seek the guidance of those who are wise.  Ask honest, loving, caring truthful people what they perceive your purpose to be.  Proverbs 11:14 states, “For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.” People see and know your blind spots.

4. Obey.  Follow what God has already been showing you.   Some people think their purpose is not good enough, or not fancy.  You are at your best when you are doing what you were created to do.  You thrive when operating in your purpose area.  You may have failed many times because you are doing what you were not supposed to do.

Try your hand at different things.  Develop your gifts.  Train yourself.  Start practicing to live on purpose.  I Peter 4:10 states, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”