God cares more about who you are becoming than what you do.
‘Purpose’ is a big topic in life. We all want to know what we are to do on this planet. It is admirable and important to want to find our purpose.
I honestly think our desire for purpose is God’s built-in compass in humanity that leads us to Him. The search ultimately leads us to God because who knows the creation better than the Creator? We will never be content until we are reconciled to God.
The search for purpose is excellent and you should do it, but I found a life hack. This life hack brings purpose to your doorstep rather than getting into debt trying to find it.
Here is the hack: Before you find your ‘do’, find your ‘be’. Simply put, your purpose will find you when you understand who God made you to be. Being is greater than doing.
As a millennial raised by the Gen X working class, I found that if we are not careful, we tend to get to work before discovering who we are. There is something gritty and honorable about getting to work without thinking about it much. We need that type of can-do attitude in all of us. I’m not labeling that as a bad thing, but rather an out-of-balance thing.
If we aren’t careful, we can work until we discover, “Where has all of my time gone?”. That’s the definition of a mid-life crisis. This rhythm has caused a new generation of non-workers. That’s why millennials and Gen-Z’rs are running to become influencers and working remotely. They don’t want to make the same mistakes their parents made. They’d rather have life experience than financial security.
I submit that we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We have gone from one extreme to the other. Without a doubt, God wants us to get to work. Working is part of God’s plan for humanity. He put man in the Garden of Eden and told him to get to work. Work is good, but we must get the order right.
Order is essential in the Bible. Order is important, period. Anyone who has ever followed directions knows that if you go from step 1 to step 4, you will most likely have to take something apart and reassemble it.
Jesus understood order. He was thirty years old before He began His earthly ministry. He knew the importance of being a Son before He became the Savior. Identity begets purpose. When we get the order right, everything falls into place.
Before Jesus walked into His purpose, He walked down to Jordan to be baptized by His cousin. When Jesus walked up to John, they had an interesting conversation recorded in Matthew, chapter 3.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.“
Jesus set the example even though John was trying to deter him. Jesus knew order was necessary. Jesus needed to be obedient and fulfill every step it took to be in the right standing with the Father. Does that mean Jesus was not in right standing? No, Jesus knew the steps to fulfillment and would not miss them.
Look at what happened. After Jesus was baptized, He was affirmed by the Father.
Affirmation before ministry.
Identity before work.
Sonship before priesthood.
If you feel lost in purpose, I’ll bet you need affirmation from the Father. He needs to remind you that you are His. Outside of knowing that, everything else seems manageable.
Be a son before you are a worker. Be filled with affirmation before you are with purpose.
Purpose comes to those who find a life grounded in the Lord.
Blessings,
Pastor Chad Fagundes
Chad Fagundes is Men’s and Outreach Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at chad@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528