Living on Purpose — How Do I Make My Life Count?
Bring the Journey Together
Over the past five weeks, we have explored identity, belonging, purpose, and calling.
We began with the truth that we were created in the image of God.
We saw that through Jesus Christ we receive a new identity.
We learned that we are adopted into God's family and given a place to belong.
We discovered that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
And last week we considered how God uses our gifts, experiences, responsibilities, and opportunities as part of our calling.
Now we come to the final question:
How do I actually live on purpose?
The answer is not found in accomplishing one extraordinary thing.
It is found in faithfully giving our lives to God.
A purposeful life is a life centered on Christ, shaped by His kingdom, invested in people, and lived with eternity in view.
Begin With God's Word
- Matthew 6:33
- Matthew 28:18–20
- Philippians 1:20–21
- Matthew 5:13–16
- 2 Timothy 4:7
What Would Make You Say Your Life Mattered?
When you think about the end of your life, what would make you say: “My life mattered”?
Financial success? A respected career? A strong family? Helping other people? Being remembered? Making a difference?
Now consider an even deeper question:
What would God call a life well lived?
That question changes the way we think about purpose.
The goal is not simply to build a life that feels meaningful to us.
It is to live a life that is faithful to Him.
A Life That Counts Is a Life Given to Christ
We Are Part of a Story Larger Than Ourselves
One of the most important discoveries in the Christian life is that our lives are not the center of the story.
God is.
Scripture tells the story of God's work from Creation to New Creation.
God created the world.
Humanity rebelled.
God began His work of redemption.
Jesus came.
The kingdom of God entered history in Him.
Jesus died and rose again.
The Holy Spirit was given.
The church was sent into the world.
And one day Christ will return and make all things new.
Your life takes place within that story.
Purpose is therefore not primarily asking:
“How can God help me accomplish my plans?”
The deeper question is:
“How can my life participate in what God is doing?”
Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus gives us one of the clearest priorities for purposeful living:
Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness.
To seek God's kingdom means that His priorities increasingly become our priorities.
Truth. Justice. Mercy. Holiness. Compassion. Reconciliation. People. The lost. The broken. The formation of disciples. The spread of the gospel. The glory of Christ.
When God's kingdom comes first, everything else begins finding its proper place.
Career becomes stewardship.
Money becomes a resource.
Relationships become opportunities to love.
Gifts become tools for service.
Time becomes something entrusted rather than merely spent.
Life itself becomes an offering.
Purpose Requires Surrender
We cannot live fully for God's purposes while insisting that our lives remain completely under our control.
Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.
Purpose therefore begins with surrender.
This does not mean God destroys personality, creativity, ambition, or desire.
It means those things are placed under His authority.
We begin to pray:
“Lord, not simply what do I want from my life, but what do You want from me?”
The One who created us knows better than we do what our lives were made for.
Purpose Is Lived Today
There is a danger in treating purpose as something that will begin later.
When I get the right job.
When I retire.
When the children are older.
When I have more money.
When I finally know exactly what God wants.
But God's purposes are present tense.
Today matters.
The person in front of you matters.
The conversation matters.
The opportunity to serve matters.
A purposeful life is built from thousands of ordinary acts of faithfulness.
Purpose Is About People
Jesus summarized God's will in two directions:
Love God.
Love your neighbor.
That means purpose cannot be separated from relationships.
We may build organizations. Create things. Lead ministries. Develop careers. Write books. Teach. Give. Serve.
But much of what God does through our lives ultimately involves people.
People who need encouragement.
People who need truth.
People who need forgiveness.
People who need practical help.
People who need to know Jesus.
If our understanding of purpose makes us less loving, we have misunderstood it.
Purpose Includes Making Disciples
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His followers to make disciples of all nations.
This mission belongs to the entire church.
Not every believer will preach publicly.
Not everyone will become a missionary.
Not everyone will lead a ministry.
But every Christian can participate in helping other people move toward Jesus.
We can pray.
Share our faith.
Teach Scripture.
Encourage believers.
Mentor someone.
Invite someone into Christian community.
Help a new believer grow.
A purposeful life does not merely ask:
“What can I accomplish?”
It asks:
“Who can I help move closer to Jesus?”
Purpose Is Faithfulness, Not Fame
Our culture celebrates visibility.
God celebrates faithfulness.
Jesus described the faithful servant as one who receives the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Notice what is emphasized.
Not famous.
Not impressive.
Not influential.
Faithful.
Some believers will serve God publicly.
Others will serve almost completely out of sight.
Both can live extraordinarily significant lives.
God sees the complete story.
We do not.
Purpose Requires Stewardship
Everything we have is entrusted to us.
Time. Abilities. Resources. Influence. Relationships. Opportunities. Knowledge. Experience.
Stewardship reminds us that we are managers rather than ultimate owners.
A steward asks:
“What does the Owner want done with what He has entrusted to me?”
Purpose is faithful stewardship of an entrusted life.
Purpose Changes Through the Seasons of Life
God's purpose remains, but our assignments change.
There are seasons of building.
Seasons of raising children.
Seasons of leadership.
Seasons of learning.
Seasons of caregiving.
Seasons of working.
Seasons of mentoring.
Seasons of suffering.
Seasons of retirement.
None of these seasons are meaningless.
We should never believe that usefulness to God belongs only to the young, strong, healthy, or professionally active.
The form of service may change.
The calling to faithfulness does not.
Purpose Includes Our Weakness
We sometimes believe God could use us if only we were stronger, more talented, younger, healthier, more confident, or more impressive.
But throughout Scripture, God repeatedly works through weakness.
Our limitations do not surprise Him.
He knew them when He called us.
Weakness does not have to prevent usefulness.
Sometimes weakness creates dependence.
And dependence can become the place where God's strength is most clearly seen.
Purpose Means Living With Eternity in View
One of the great dangers of life is becoming consumed with things that will not last.
Scripture repeatedly reminds us that this present life is temporary.
That is not meant to make us indifferent to life.
It is meant to help us value life properly.
Because time is limited, it matters.
Because people matter to God, they matter.
Because Christ will return, faithfulness matters.
Because God's kingdom will endure, investing in it matters.
Living with eternity in view changes our priorities.
We begin asking:
“Will this matter in the kingdom of God?”
Finishing Matters
Near the end of his life, Paul could say that he had fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.
Paul did not say that everyone appreciated him.
He did not say his life had been easy.
His life included opposition, suffering, imprisonment, rejection, and hardship.
But he remained faithful.
There is something better than beginning with enthusiasm.
Finishing with faithfulness.
“To Live Is Christ”
Philippians 1:21 may summarize purposeful living better than almost any other verse:
“To live is Christ.”
For Paul, Christ was not simply one important part of life.
Christ was the center.
His identity was Christ.
His hope was Christ.
His mission was Christ.
His future was Christ.
His purpose was rooted in Christ.
That gives us the ultimate answer to the question:
“How do I make my life count?”
Not simply by doing more.
Not by becoming famous.
Not by finding the perfect calling.
But by allowing Christ to become increasingly central to everything we are.
What Does a Life Well Lived Look Like?
- What does a successful life mean to you?
- Has that definition changed as you have grown in your faith?
- What things currently receive most of your time, energy, and attention?
- Do those priorities reflect the things you believe matter most?
- If someone observed your life for a month, what would they conclude you value most?
- Who has God currently placed in your life for you to love, encourage, serve, or influence?
- What part of your life is hardest to surrender to God?
- Are you waiting for a future season to begin living purposefully?
- What do you hope will be true when you reach the end of your life?
Complete these statements:
If my life is going to reflect God's priorities more clearly, I need to ________________________________.
One person I want to intentionally invest in is ________________________________.
One thing I sense God asking me to surrender is ________________________________.
One way I can seek His kingdom first is ________________________________.
Talk About It
- What is the difference between building our own story and participating in God's story?
- What does it mean practically to seek first the kingdom of God?
- Why is surrender necessary for a purposeful life?
- How can waiting for a future calling cause us to miss God's purpose today?
- Why are people central to Christian purpose?
- What are some ordinary ways believers can participate in making disciples?
- Why is faithfulness a better measurement of purpose than visibility?
- What has God entrusted to you that you need to steward more intentionally?
- How can purpose change during different seasons of life?
- How can weakness become a place where God works?
- What changes when we live with eternity in view?
- What would it mean for you personally to say, “To live is Christ”?
Matthew 5:13–16
1. You are the salt of the earth.
Salt affects whatever it touches.
Christians are intended to have a faithful presence in the world around them.
2. You are the light of the world.
Light makes things visible.
Our lives should help people see something true about God.
3. Faith is meant to be visible.
Jesus does not call His followers to withdraw completely from the world.
We are sent into it.
4. Character and actions matter.
Love matters.
Service matters.
Integrity matters.
Faithfulness matters.
5. The goal is God's glory.
A purposeful Christian life does not ultimately draw attention to us.
It points beyond us to God.
If people encountered Jesus primarily through the way you live, what would they learn about Him?
Respond to God
Father,
Thank You for giving me life.
Thank You for creating me in Your image.
Thank You for rescuing me through Jesus Christ and giving me a new identity.
Thank You for welcoming me into Your family.
Thank You for giving me gifts, opportunities, responsibilities, and people to love.
I give my life back to You.
Teach me to seek Your kingdom before my own.
Help me stop wasting energy trying to prove my significance.
Make me faithful with what You have placed in my hands.
Give me eyes to see the people around me.
Give me courage to serve.
Give me wisdom to use my time well.
Give me humility to surrender my plans when You lead differently.
And when my life is complete, may it be said that I loved You, followed Jesus, served others, and remained faithful.
May Christ be seen through me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Write a Personal Purpose Statement
Set aside some uninterrupted time this week and write a simple Personal Purpose Statement.
Do not try to create something impressive.
Begin with:
“Because I belong to Jesus Christ, I want to use the life God has entrusted to me to…”
Then consider:
How do I want to know and honor God?
Who has God called me to love?
What gifts has He given me?
What responsibilities has He entrusted to me?
Who can I help grow closer to Jesus?
What kind of person do I want to become?
What do I want to remain faithful to until the end?
A simple example could be:
“Because I belong to Jesus Christ, I want to know Him deeply, reflect His character, love the people He places in my life, use my gifts to serve others, help people discover the truth of Scripture, and faithfully participate in His work until He calls me home.”
Then ask one final question:
“What would living this statement look like today?”
Choose one action.
Begin there.
Read Through the Week
Matthew 6:19–34
Matthew 5:13–16
Matthew 28:16–20
Philippians 1:12–30
John 15:1–17
2 Timothy 4:1–8
Revelation 21:1–7
Your life does not have to be famous to be significant. It does not have to be extraordinary to matter. A life surrendered to Jesus, faithful with what God has entrusted, invested in people, and lived for His kingdom is a life of profound purpose.
You Have Completed the Six-Week Journey
Throughout this series, we have moved from identity to belonging, purpose, calling, and mission.
Created → Redeemed → Belonging → Purpose → Calling → Mission
Remember: your purpose is not something you have to manufacture. It grows from knowing God, belonging to Christ, and faithfully using the life He has entrusted to you.
I was created by God, redeemed by Christ, welcomed into His family, gifted for His service, and sent into His world to live faithfully for His glory.