Living On Purpose

Living with purpose is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing. With the billions of people living on earth, it is only few that can state or clearly define their purpose of existence. This best explain why many live their lives with something still missing. In spite of their successes, achievements and recognitions yet deep down in them they aren’t fulfilled. It is on this premise I write this article.

There is a reason for everything, you eat for a purpose, you put on clothes for a purpose, you study for a purpose, you work for a purpose. Just about anything you do is for a purpose. Funny how many can take time to plan activities and events in their lives and fail to critically examine the purpose of their existence.

What then is purpose? 
It is a commitment or resolve to live in a certain way and achieve specific objective. Remember you can’t make such commitment or resolution if you hadn’t discovered it and you can’t discover it if you don’t go to the source – God. If you want to know about a product, ask the producer, if you want to know about an invention ask the inventor, if you want to know about creation ask the creator. God created man – you, you can only know your purpose from him. Be assured you can never be assigned to lead a life you aren’t passionate or enthusiastic about.

You aren’t alive now by accident, there’s a purpose for your existence, you’ve got a contribution to make on the earth with your gift, talent and opportunity.
This clearly explain why you sometime feel you were supposed to be doing more with your life, more with your natural and God-given abilities, feel like you can do bigger things with your life. Are you are stuck in the wrong direction – job, career or something promising? You’ve got to make the U-turn! A Chinese proverb said “no matter how far you have gone if it’s the wrong direction as soon as you know turn back.”  The day you discover purpose is the day you really start to live, whether at 20 or at 40.

Friends, you don’t have all of the time in the world. Even Methuselah with his 969 years, I’m yet to discover a significant achievement he made with this length of time. It is not the years you live in life but the life in the years. The Bible chronicled the life of great men and women who didn’t use up to 25% of that length of time to shake their generation and turn the world upside side in their era, simply they were persons of purpose. Jesus our perfect model of all time set an example for us. Within three and half years he achieved his greatest feat of which we are all recipient. How did he achieve this? Purpose!

He didn’t have to do all things like Jack of all trade, never! He knew precisely why he came “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10 (NIV) He indeed patterned his ministry in this line and everyone that encountered him had a turnaround even much now in his absence. No wonder Acts 10:38 said “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him”

A man of purpose doesn’t live for himself alone. He lives for others. Through his life, he offers help, courage and hope to those around him to become their best versions. Emily Dickson said “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.” You are one of a kind that can render this customized service. Only you can make your customized contributions. I like Charles H. Burr here:

“Simply give others a bit of yourself, a thoughtful act, a helpful idea, a word of appreciation, a lift over a rough spot, a sense of understanding, a timely suggestion. You take something out of your mind, garnished in kindness out of your heart, and put it into the other fellow’s mind and heart.”

As you prepare yourself to live with purpose; it is normal and natural to encounter challenges that makes you dejected, depressed, disappointed, despondent, disturbed, distressed and all of the d(s). You must brave up to face it because they’re only signs that you’re headed for the right direction. This is more reason you partner with your creator through the Holy Spirit; He gives comfort especially at these odd times.

My friend, you can’t afford to die with all your gift, talents, and skills. You can’t exit this terrestrial side anonymous, never! Necessity is laid before you to exhaust all you possess before your exit. Remember “We are a generation that cannot afford to wait. The future began yesterday and we are already late.” John Legend  

If you must live, live strictly on purpose.