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 Nothing
is more vital to worthwhile achievement than a strong sense of
purpose. As someone has well noted, “A purpose underlies
character, culture, position, attainment of every sort — it is
the eternal condition of success.” And, we might add, the
condition of eternal success as well. Nowhere is this sense of
purpose more essential than in the spiritual realm.
In
fact, the Scriptures teach that purpose of heart is an important
part of faithfulness. When Barnabas came to the young church in
Antioch, he exhorted them “that with purpose of heart they
would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). Such cleaving would
be hard for these new Christians, surrounded as they were with
the continual influence of paganism and idolatry. God knew
exactly what they needed to see them through: an abiding sense
of purpose. They needed to remember what was the hope of their
calling; that their citizenship was in heaven and that,
belonging to God, they should live the rest of their time in the
flesh to the doing of His will (1 Pet. 4:2). When men want to go
to heaven more than they want anything else, and when they keep
this objective in mind, it will make a real difference in how
they live! The weary traveler with a home-centered mind is not
likely to be easily distracted from his homeward journey.
Neither is the Christian who seeks his heavenly home — the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He presses on
(Phil. 3:14). Discouragement, persecutions, temptations and
other problems will come, but the purposed-filled heart can face
and conquer them — and press on.
Now,
if going to heaven is our ultimate
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goal, it will affect our every-day
living, as already noted. Reaching the long-range objective
involves intermediate objectives. As someone has put it, “the
best way to peel a bucket of potatoes is one at a time”.
Purpose has an important place in our days, weeks and months. We
must reduce purpose to specifics — “one potato at a time”.
Individually,
that means concentrating on definite objectives in serving the
Lord. A resolve to “generally” do better may be well
intended, but is not generally followed. Concerning the matter
of giving, for instance, Paul said that it was to be according
as one had “purposed in his heart” (2 Cor. 9:7). That
implies forethought and planning. And that ought to preface all
service to God. Teaching the lost of our community deserves such
purposing. But, like the potatoes, it’ll have to be one at a
time. Without purpose our spiritual lives are apt to drift —
and all drifting is in the wrong direction.
Collectively,
in our together work as a church, there is the same pressing
need for purpose. For lack of purpose some local churches do
little more than “keep house for the Lord”. Little is
planned so little is done. Objectives are as essential here as
with the individual — and they ought to include the
participation of as many members as possible. Whether making
religious surveys, personal work programs or intensive special
studies, we should plan the Lord’s work and do it — on
purpose and with purpose!
Dan S. Shipley
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