Elkan's Word For Today

FULFILLING PURPOSE (Pt. 1)

 The LORD has made everything for his own purpose... – Pro 16:4 (GW)

The concept of PURPOSE lies at the heart of every man. If not at childhood, then surely as the years come on and the activities pile up, the thought of “Who Am I and What Exactly Am I Here For?” will creep into the heart.

‘Agent Smith’, the villain of the Matrix movie franchise, was on to something when he said,

 “There's no denying purpose, because as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist. It is purpose that connects us, purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us, it is purpose that defines, purpose that binds us. We're here because of …Purpose.”

Yes, we’re here because of Purpose, but how can one know his or her purpose; and how can it be fulfilled?

I believe that the answers can be found in the inspired words of the first 9 verses of Proverbs 16. This group of verses, to me, delineates the principles of living a life of purpose practically, without falling into either of the two extremes that people go into when it comes to purpose.

THE TWO EXTREME VIEWS OF PURPOSE

1: “Your Life Is What You Make It”

This view says that You are the architect of your own destiny and You have to write the script of your life the way you want it to be. You choose what you do, when you do it and how you do it. You decide which passions to pursue, which person to marry, what legacy you leave behind, etc. 

To members of this group, Purpose/Fate/Destiny is an illusion and a crutch for those who are too lazy to plan, study, analyse and organize their lives into something respectable.

The flaw of this outlook is that GOD is wholly absent in the entire equation. Ps 100:3  says, “Know you that the LORD He is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves”.

No life was designed to succeed without the input of the Creator; and the so-called Successes we see today who did it apparently without God’s participation are living far lower than par as far as Eternity’s concerned.

2: “Que Sera, Sera”

This view states, “Whatever Will Be, Will Be”, (the future’s not ours to see). People of this group frown on excess stress, effort and labour; “Do your best and leave the rest” they say.

Single ladies in this group, for example, care less how they look; “if it’s my destiny to marry, then the man will come, no matter what”.

Students in this group say, “Don’t kill yourself because of ordinary books; God is in control. If it is HIS will, you will succeed; if you fail, then it was not God’s will for you to pass. You can’t  cheat destiny”

Etc.

Of course, you can already see where this group will end up in life.

The truth, as always, lies in the middle road, and that’s what we’ll dwell on for the rest of the week.

AMEN

More Blessings await you; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.

GREG ELKAN