Purpose is not our gifts and potentials. Bless God for gifts and potentials, when adequately developed can bring us before kings (Prov 18:16) . Many people have impacted lifes by investing and developing their innate gifts and potentials. Nevertheless, gifts/ potentials are not wholly purpose. To clarify this , I will make this illustration; A guy may have some potentials such as writing, singing and profound computer skill. It is a misconception to say his purpose in life is to be a writer, musician or a computer engineer because of his innate potentials . He could decide to build a career with any of these gifts, that’s okay. These gifts can also facilitate the fulfilment of his purpose but his purpose is more definite and bigger than the gifts.
For instance, his purpose may be to bring hope to the broken hearted , sort of an encourager whom the Lord had given a learned tongue to know how to speak to those who are cast down. In such a case, He could channel his writing gift in giving a message of hope to the depressed. He could also write songs often to increase people’s trust in the Lord. Then he may decide to use his computer skill to earn a living. All these gifts can work together for him towards fulfilling his own purpose and making a success out of him. They are like tools in the instrument box of purpose.
Everyone of us have different understanding of success. We all use different parameters to measure the rate of our success in life. It is appalling that the major yardstick that we now use globally to measure success is money while we leave all other things out of the box. We can achieve a measure of success (accomplishment) in our business/ profession but to outrightly say a man is successful because he is rich and has great possessions is just not true.
Money has been the most common parameter that we have been using to mark success in our society and this notion is corrupting our world the more. Money is good, I fully agree. I dislike poverty too because I know how much accomplishment or impact a purposeful man will make when he has enough money as at his disposal. Nevertheless, money should be considered as an instrument NOT A drive as we have it this day. It is quite pathetic that our youth’s only vision is to become a billionaire , build houses and travel round the world. This is what is presently driving our daily living. Most of us do not even have any meaningful thing that we want to do with the billions. There is no vision in our heart that the billions could aid its fulfilment.
As a result of lack of purpose, many youths are passionately after anything that they perceive can give them more relevance and worth in the society. Many have been pushed to do things that are uncalled for in the name of labouring to be rich. The word of God that admonishes us not to labour to be rich ( Proverbs 23:14) doesn’t mean we should not work to earn a living. It only means riches should not be our driving force for living and working. Influence and impact should rather be the goal and these will birth riches on their own. The mother of all influence is in a man’s purpose, the One discovered and fulfilled.
Leading a Purposeful Life 