God’s Will is in His Word
One of the major questions all humanity wrestles with is trying to determine what God’s will is for their life: What does God want me to do? There are many who have attempted to answer these major questions on their own, but if you try to discover your purpose outside of God you’ll come up empty every time.
The great news is that God does give humanity some big-picture purpose statements. These directions can guide the larger boundaries of our lives. Sometimes God will speak very specifically, but most of the time he leaves daily decisions up to us and invites us to partner with him.
If you’re wondering what your purpose is, begin with the instructions from God’s Word to all humanity and work from there. If what you are doing isn’t accomplishing the statements below, then you’re not fulfilling your purpose.
1. FOR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Why do we exist? Why were we created? If we don’t have these questions answered, we have no foundation to build our lives on. Only followers of Jesus have the answers, as is highlighted in this verse:
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36
We exist first and foremost to have relationship with God and to live a life that brings glory to him. Rest in the knowledge that you are loved and valued by God.
2. TO MULTIPLY WHAT YOU’RE GIVEN
God gave us life and he commissions us to do the same. This verse in the beginning of Genesis sets the stage for one of the primary purposes of humanity:
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:28
The Bible says that the earth is the Lord’s and part of our purpose is to steward and manage it. Yes, taking care of planet earth is a God-given mandate. This doesn’t mean we’re not supposed to touch it or use it; the Bible encourages us to use all of its resources. God also expects us to improve on everything he gives us. Practically, this means caring for the world that we’ve been given: the workplace, family, community, country, and every area of life. Multiply and grow what you’ve been given.
3. TO EXTEND LOVE TO EVERYONE
This verse below reaffirms our primary purpose to love God and be in relationship with him, but it also gives us another primary mandate from heaven:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
Love your neighbor! This is huge! Most of the time it’s easy, but rarely do we get along with everyone. Because Jesus unconditionally loves us and gave his life for us, God requires that we forgive others who wrong us and love all people as an extension of the love we’ve been shown.
4. TO PRIORITIZE GOD’S KINGDOM
While God put us in charge of the earth, God still has an ultimate plan and purpose that he is working out on the earth, and he calls us to make that our primary focus as well:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Too often we think as individuals disconnected from a greater plan. Now as a follower of Jesus, we’re called to make his kingdom our purpose. Our personal life, our family, our work, our gifting, and our ministry should all revolve around how to best advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
5. TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS
In the original plan for humanity in the Garden, everyone was in relationship with God and loved him, but after humanity sinned it caused a separation between us and God. Because God will not settle for being distant from us, he has given us a key mission while on earth—to share with everyone the salvation from our sins that is available through Jesus:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
I write more at length about this later in the Following Jesus book, but it’s important to note that this isn’t an option; it is a command of Jesus. This doesn’t mean that everyone is supposed to become a preacher, but we all need to lead as many people to Jesus as we possibly can in our lifetime.
When we filter all of our life with the above key purposes of humanity in mind, we’ll live with more of God’s blessing on what we do, and we’ll live fulfilled, knowing that our life has meaning and is a part of God’s greater plan for the earth.
