Purpose

by Marietjie Chase



A good friend of ours once said: When purpose is misunderstood, abuse is inevitable. This statement have endured because it is true.  Let's take a simple butter knife for an example. It is made for the purpose of spreading butter or aiding the fork in getting food in our mouths. It was not intended to double as a screwdriver, wedge, putty-knife or welding tool. It can be used for these jobs, but it will damage, break or destroy(kill) the butter knife. We need to find the original intent of it's creator to discern the purpose.

What is the original intent for creating human beings? Was man really made so that God could have something to take care of? Wouldn't that make God man's servant? Was man created so that God can have someone to be in relationship, fellowship with?  That would imply that God is somehow imperfect, not sovereign and not self-sustaining. So, why did God made man, humans?

God made man to show forth His glory. Man's purpose for being is to be to the praise of the Glory of God. In the New Testament the Bible says that the church, the Bride of Christ, the redeemed show forth the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in accordance with the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus. God has a purpose, a design for making us. Eph 3:10-11

Rom 9:23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

Eph 1:5-6 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.


Eph 1:11- 12 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.


Hbr 13:20- 21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Rom 12:1-2, Col 3:20)


Psa 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake.


Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Also see: 2 Cor 4:15-17, Phil 1:11 and 2:11, Phil 1:20.

If my purpose and your purpose is to display the glory of God,  if we are to do all and be all to the glory of God, what implication does that have on our daily, practical life? What manner of people ought we to be so that God will get all the glory?

Paul writes to the Philippians and after his statement; that he does not care whether he lives or dies as long as Jesus Christ gets the glory; he continues to explain what such a life entails. In the second chapter he says: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each regard one another..." Paul then brings Jesus Christ in as the ultimate example of self-sacrifice to the glory, honor and praise of God the Father.

How should we live then? Actions starts in attitudes, and attitudes starts in the mind. Our thinking has one of two sources: God or the evil one. It is our decision which thought and idea we will entertain, pay attention to and nurture into an attitude. "Let this attitude be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus..." When we are ignorant of the written word of God, we make it difficult for ourselves to sift through all the things that come knocking at our mind's door. We often only realize that we are of on the wrong track when the attitude gives birth to actions. An ounce of prevention is far better than a ton of regret

We have to make quality choices on a daily basis. It may involve deciding how you spend your time. Do you have snippets of time while waiting in the doctor's office, at school for the kids or on the bus? How do you occupy yourself? You could use these moments to quietly pray, read a pocket New Testament or meditate on a portion of scripture.  Some other decisions may involve more difficult choices. You may have to refuse to get offended. Yes, taking offense is a choice. You may have to make a choice about the information you have about someone or some situation. Do you keep it to yourself and pray about it or do you feed the rumor mill. In all these things and many more, we can choose to fulfill our purpose by living in such a way that our lives bring glory and honor to the God we claim to serve.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely (gracious), whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell (ponder)on these things.

Col 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Eph 2:7-10 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

If we desire to fulfill our purpose for existence, which is to bring glory and honor to God, we have one thing we cannot neglect to do. That is to cultivate, to protect and pursue a vibrant, growing relationship with God the Father, through Jesus Christ by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.