Question: “I feel like I lack meaning and purpose in my life. How can I feel like God can use me? I feel like I am just living—waiting to die. Could you help me with some practical ways to feel needed? Thank you.”
What a wonderful and though-provoking question; one that all need to ask. The most miserable people on earth are those who do not have a clear purpose in life or whose purpose is focused totally on self. Life is meaningful only when focused on God and others. Jesus gave a summary of our purpose in life when He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). He said the second greatest command was, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Our purpose in life is to love God and serve others.
Peter gave a good summary of our purpose in life when he wrote: “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil, and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it” (I Peter 3:8-11).
Paul summed up his purpose in life in these words: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Our purpose in life is to die to self and to let Christ shine through us! That is a great challenge; the greatest purpose one can have on earth.
How Does One Accomplish That Purpose?
Show Your Love for God.
Jesus said, “If you love Me you will keep My Commandments” (John 14:15). One of those commandments is to assemble on the first day of the week to eat some of the unleavened bread and to drink some of the fruit of the vine. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). As we eat the bread, we are reminded of His body which suffered for us. As we drink the fruit of the vine, we are reminded of the blood that He shed so that we can be forgiven of our sins. Not only does assembling with other Christians enable us to show our love to God, it also helps us stay focused on our purpose in life. As we live our daily lives, it is easy to let the physical become our focus, when our real purpose is the spiritual. We need to keep in mind to separate between the urgent from the important. There are many other ways one can show love to God, particularly, as we live our daily lives in the world, but gathering with the saints as often as possible, even on days other than the first day of the week, will keep us focused on our purpose.
Put Others Before Self.
Paul instructed, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3-4). Jesus demonstrated how to do that when He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Be ready and willing to serve those in the church and those in the world. There are two groups of people in the world: (1) Givers, and (2) Takers. Be a giver. Some only take, but never serve.
Find Your Place of Service in the Church.
Paul described the church as a body with Christ being the head and each member of the church as a member serving under that Head. “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body” (I Corinthians 12:14-15). He went on the mention several other parts which make up a physical body. The point is, all parts are needed for the physical body to function properly. The same is true spiritually – all parts of the body are needed to make the spiritual body function. Each is as important a any other member. Don’t compare yourself with any other member. All are needed. Paul made an interesting statement, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired” (I Corinthians 12:18). The body needs you and God has placed you in the body to meet that need.
Finding Your Place
Every person on earth has some God-given ability. In the parable of the talents, even the one-talent man had been given something and was expected to us it (Matthew 25:14-30). Whatever your God-given talent is, it is needed in the body (church). You may not be a teacher or one who can talk to strangers, but there is something that God ha given you that the church needs. You may be especially good at something no one else in the church is good at – use it. You may need to get out of your comfort zone and try something you have not done before. You may find it is your strength. Your talent may be in reaching out to those who are not Christians. Your talent may be encouraging those who are struggling. Your talent may be furnishing funds for the church to function. Your talent may be to be a great Bible student and help others grow in their knowledge of God’s Word. You have at least one talent, and maybe more. Use it to the glory of God and you will find your life meaningful!
— Wayne Burger