The Path Towards Purpose
“You were created on purpose for a purpose.” May we all discover the unique and beautiful purpose God has woven into the very fabric of our being.
The Search for Purpose
On some fundamental level, we all find ourselves searching. We search for truth, for approval, and as we're exploring here, for purpose. But the noise from our world, the constant chatter, makes it difficult to find clarity.
"There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one’s life. There is much wisdom in the words of Nietzsche: 'He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.'"
— Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
What is Purpose?
Researcher Kendall Cotton Bronk suggests one’s purpose requires four key components: dedicated commitment, personal meaningfulness, goal-directedness, and a vision larger than oneself. Drawing from various sources, from the Oxford English Dictionary to academic journals, we can see purpose as a cluster of related ideas: meaning, direction, values, goals, and intent. Let's consolidate that into a single idea we can carry with us:
Purpose is a personally meaningful long-term goal that directs our life and contributes to something larger than ourselves.
With that definition, if we take a "cultural biopsy," we see the world often tells us our purpose is driven by success, wealth, status, influence, or even just being liked. But a growing body of evidence suggests a true sense of purpose is vital for our wellbeing. This is where a biblical worldview offers a profoundly helpful framework, not just for finding purpose, but for living it.
Look Up: Our Connection to Christ
When we step into the biblical narrative, we find a treasure trove. To live with purpose, we must first turn our eyes towards a God who defines and gives purpose. It isn't something we frantically invent; it's something we receive.
"It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end."
— Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
The Chief End of Man
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
From The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1 Cor. 10:31, Ps. 73:24-26, John 17:22,24)
The Foundation: Reflecting Goodness
Think of a God who is rich in mercy. A God who demonstrated His love, not just said it. He gave us life even when we were separated from Him. The Bible teaches that we are saved by God's grace through faith—it is a gift, not something we earn. Our purpose, therefore, is not tied to how good we are, but to how good God is. It's not about the good things we've done, but what He has done for us.
A Purposeful Practice:
In the small moments of today—eating, drinking, working, speaking—we can consciously see them as sacred. Let's reframe them not as tasks to complete, but as opportunities to reflect God's goodness into the world, because He first showed His goodness to us.
- Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. - Ecclesiastes 12:13
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - Isaiah 43:7
Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ” - Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” - Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. - Proverbs 19:21
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. - Psalm 86:12
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, - John 17:3
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. - Deuteronomy 6:5
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. - Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. - Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. - Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. - James 4:8
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. - Hebrews 12:1–2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. - John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Look In: Our Identity and Design
Once we realize our purpose comes from God, we can look inward. This isn't navel-gazing; it's discovering how God has uniquely designed us. It’s a moment of conviction for many of us, to stop borrowing our purpose from the world and instead embrace the one God has for us.
Our Design in Christ
Scripture teaches that we are God's poiēma—His masterpiece, His poem. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Does your view of yourself align with God's view of you? As Psalm 139 beautifully states, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous... Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."
A Purposeful Practice:
Reflect on your unique gifts, passions, and experiences. Instead of comparing yourself to others, ask Christ how He has uniquely wired you. Let the truth of scripture define how you think about yourself, surrendering any negative self-talk that doesn't align with you being His masterpiece.
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. - Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. - Psalm 139:13–16
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. - Romans 12:1–2
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - 2 Timothy 1:9
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. - 1 Peter 2:9
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - Ephesians 1:11–12
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. - 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. - Galatians 2:20
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Philippians 1:21
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. - Luke 9:23–24
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." - Romans 14:8
If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Look Out: Our Life in the World
As we look up to God and look in to see our design, purpose begins to emerge. And that purpose inevitably points us outward. A healthy inner life with Christ always flows out for the benefit of others. God has gifted and blessed you not merely so you can enjoy Him, but so you might be a conduit of His blessing to the people around you.
A Life That Flows Outward
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul paints a beautiful picture. The body of Christ has many parts, but they make up one whole. It says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other." This is God's design. This is His purpose. God, in his unimaginable wisdom, has gifted each member of his body with a special gift—not to brag or boast, but to be a blessing. Our purpose is for the sake of others.
A Purposeful Practice:
Let's ask for one opportunity today to put someone else's interests before our own. Use the gifts God has given you not for personal gain, but to build up and encourage someone in your family, your friendships, or your community. It's time for us to begin living on purpose for others.
- Matthew 22:37–39
Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" - Micah 6:8
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. - Matthew 28:19–20
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Galatians 5:13–14
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Philippians 2:3–4
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. - 1 Peter 4:10–11
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. - James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. - 2 Corinthians 5:15
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. - Colossians 3:23–24
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. - 1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. - Acts 20:24
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. - Galatians 6:9–10
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. - Ephesians 4:1–3
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. - 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. - 1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. - Ephesians 5:15–17
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.