What were you created to do? That's the ultimate question we all have in mind. As we now live for God, we know that we were saved through Jesus Christ for a reason. God paid the ultimate price so that we could pursue His call for our lives, but what is our call?
No one can answer that question for you aside from God. We all have different callings. We'll know some of it, while other parts we'll only find out along the way. But the most accurate compass for us when search for purpose is the motive. Why do we do what we do?
Many times, our purpose can be clouded by wrong motives. When we pursue a career for more money, when we build and manipulate a relationship for selfish reasons or when we come into ministry looking for our glory, we are driven away from our purpose instead of towards it. That's why the motive of the heart is the most important part to finding our true calling. Matthew 6:21 tells us, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (ESV).
Why do you do what you do? That job, relationship, ministry, hobby, recreation or project that you're part of- do you do it for yourself? If you do then chances are that that's not what God calls you to do. God's calling will always align with His commands, and the greatest command God gives us is to do things for Him and for other people.
Matthew 22:37b–39 tells us, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (ESV). When we pursue anything that does not align with God's commands, we can be sure that that is not what God wants for us.
God desires that we do things His way because His way is always good, pleasing, perfect and for our welfare. Sometimes in our own limited understanding we think we know what's good for us more than God does. But looking at the cross, we are reminded that God believes in our purpose so much that He gave up His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we could pursue our purposes within the context of His ways and His commands.
Why do you do what you do? Are you doing it for your own security, your own needs or your own desires? Or are you doing what you do for God's glory and to be a blessing to other people? At the end of the day, our purpose will always point us to obedience to God's command to honour Him and live for other people.
As we follow God's purpose, we find ourselves, but it must always start with God. The Westminster Catechism says, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
