That is probably the question I hear most often as I am out and about in ministry. People want to know why they are here on this earth. If they are believers, they are struggling to figure out what unique purpose God has for them to fulfill. They say to me, "You know your calling. You know you're called to go out and teach the Word and lead people in worship and evangelize. But I don't do those things. What am I supposed to do? What is my gift? What is my purpose?"
It isn't as hard to discern as one might think.
Isaiah 43:6-7 says, "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made."
Ephasians 1:12 says, "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."
So, clearly we can conclude that our whole purpose for being here is to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But that usually begs the question, "How? How do I bring Him glory? I can't sing! I can't speak! I don't have time to go to Africa!"
What a mistake it is for us to compare ourselves against others in the kingdom. Our callings are not the same, and no calling or gifting is greater than another. Consider the blind man in John chapter 9. What was his purpose? How did he give God glory? John 9:1-3: "As [Jesus] went along He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"
So, what was this blind man's purpose? I think his purpose was his blindness. The Lord used his blindness for a healing that would cause a great uproar with the Pharisees, and eventually lead many to a whole new understanding of the Torah: that God does not desire those who keep man's traditions with a religious spirit, but those who are in relationship with the Living God, and love to serve Him.
Maybe your purpose was the abuse you suffered as a child, which in turn has caused you to work with abused children, giving compassion and love. Maybe your purpose was your cancer, putting you in touch with many other cancer victims to whom you could witness your faith. Maybe your whole life seemed rather pointless until you grew very old and ended up in a retirement home full of sad and lonely people. You make them laugh and bring them joy, which gives God glory.
It isn't as hard to discern as one might think. That's because it is simpler than we normally think. Jesus' purpose was His suffering. Very often ours is also. It is our suffering that leads us to Him, and it is often the result of our suffering that leads others to Him. The apostle Peter wrote, "Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).
Next time you want to know what your purpose is, ask yourself if Jesus might be saying this about you: "This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his(her) life."
