A Multi-Purpose Purpose

Introduction

There are some cleaning supplies that are multi-purposed. There are some cleaning chemicals that are multi-purposed. Even homemade cleaning supplies have multiple purposes. My wife talks about times the matriarchs in her family as well as herself would use vinegar and other items to clean multiple things like surfaces, bathtubs and even laundry. Typically this multi-purposed use came out of survival. Similar to bleach, you can mop floors with it, clean a counter-top, put a cap full in some dishes, or brighten up that white t-shirt with the deodorant stains in it.

Historically, making soap goes back as early as 2800 BC. Even cleaning tools are multi-purposed. The squeegee you use to clean your windows on your car can be found in the kitchen of a fast food restaurant to help drain excess water off the floor during closing hours.

Today many items to clean surfaces are multi-faceted. Cleaning companies make dishsoap, hand soap, tub and toilet bowl cleaners, and even hand sanitizer. Similar to the multi-purpose nature of soaps and other cleaning items God’s purpose for our life and our purpose is multi-purposed. Your purpose is beneficial to you as well as the kingdom. My purpose should promote me to worship God with thanksgiving, but my purpose should also make this world a better place.

Whatever your purpose is, it should shine a light on the world that is a very dark place. As Christians we have a common purpose to share the gospel but people do that in various ways.

You will find 19 different definitions for the word purpose used between the old and new testament. You will see the word used 80 times in the bible. Some popular scriptures are Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”

Considering this our purpose should be used to serve one another 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Understand that your purpose is multi-purposed. This is why when we celebrate the life of people you’ll see all kinds of people show up to pay respects to a person that used their purpose accordingly. A gifted leader is not just a leader within the church, a gifted leader is a leader on the job and in the neighborhood. A gifted singer doesn’t just lift the spirits of those during praise and worship they bless other people with the giftedness of their voice. Our ability to spread the gospel doesn’t just benefit the people who come to Christ but makes the world a better place when they know they’ll be treated with Christian love when they come and talk to you.

Purpose is difficult to navigate because it is a concept rather than a concrete action or idea. One of the reasons our purposes are difficult to figure out is because we have too much stuff in the way. 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The Journey to Purpose Begins with Praise

Understand that every journey begins with thanksgiving and praise.

Psalm 138:1 “I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.”

Understand that we have to realize that in all things we must remain thankful to the God that empowered us to even understand what our purpose is.

Life provides questions, when we cry out to God he provides us with answers. “In the day when I cried out”.

Not understanding your purpose in life is anguish. It’s frustrating because it makes you feel like you have no direction.

In the midst of searching continue to praise. The God that sits high has a high regard for the lowly (find definition of lowly)

God is a reviver, a giver of life. Protects us from our enemies. Our enemies are distractions or discouragement that want to hinder us from our purpose.

God has the power to put to end all the things that separate us from him. This is why purpose or the plan God has for our lives can be so challenging. It takes some determination to discover purpose. Purpose can be hindered by evil men even though it’s known by others. It’s challenging due to the fact that even though you could be permitted to do something it might not be your purpose. Purpose gives us a sense of accomplishment and determination. It’s challenging because once it’s truly discoverable it can be delayed.

Think about Joseph, his giftedness brought a lot of pain, separation from his family, being falsely accused and forgotten but his purpose of leadership, forgiveness and reconciliation led to the reuniting of himself with his family. His giftedness led to a powerful place but God’s purpose provided a humble outcome.

We Are All Looking For Answers

The psalmist writes in this text “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul”. Be bold about what God has called you to do, you might not be the best but you are beneficial for the pasture that God has put you in!

Purpose can have a windy path but purpose never leaves. The only time our purpose is destroyed is when we value the pleasures of sin over the value of purpose. Even though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me the psalmist said, you will stretch out Your hand. Understand that your purpose is truly found in God. When we struggle with finding our purpose let us draw near unto the Lord.

Ephesians 1:11 “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,”

In 2 Chron. 14:4, King Asa told the people of Judah to “center their lives in God.” Actually, whatever is at the center of your life is your god! if we commit our lives to God, He becomes the centerpiece and in that center precious things are revealed. How do you know when God is at the center of your life? When He’s at the center, you worship. My purpose should glorify God no matter what it is. When He’s not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline of your life. The moment you put Him back at the center, you’ll have peace again. Philippians 4:7 says, “A sense of God’s wholeness... will come and settle you down”. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

This text begins with a priority to worship! I will worship toward your holy temple and praise your name.

Troubles of life do not hinder my purpose, troubles of live should promote me to get back to God. God has a perfect plan for us just like He did David. God called David to be King, the plans of Saul, the armies of the enemy never stopped God’s plan for His life. God’s plan got interrupted when David took matters into his own hands.

My purpose as a leader is not just fastened to the church, that purpose impacts the way I father my children, how I love my wife, how I interact with people in the community.

Your purpose might be to encourage people, that’s not just saying amen on Sunday morning, that’s encouraging a kid in your classroom to turn in their assignment even though they had a rough morning, that’s encouraging your teammate to get that last rep in when coach isn’t looking, that’s sharing a kind word with someone who has had a terrible day! My purpose is multi-purposed.

Jesus had a multi-purpose purpose. His life and legacy did not just save the world but it gave Peter an opportunity to be redeemed, it provided Paul with an opportunity to turn his life around, it gave the Samaritan woman a new outlook on society. The cross benefits the church and the world. That’s what purpose does it has reach!

The NLT version says “don’t abandon me, you made me” - wouldn’t it make sense to get close to the creator that made me. He made me so He must know what I’m made of and what I’m capable of. So if you are having trouble finding purpose the first step needs to be get close to God. Let’s pray more, let’s worship more, let’s obey more!

Remember your purpose is two fold: You need need a ministry to believers and a mission to unbelievers, that is what purpose is all about. It’s a multi-purpose, purpose!