What is Our Purpose in Life?

What is our purpose in life?



That is the million dollar question...one that people have been asking themselves for centuries! Philosophers and teachers have been arguing and debating this one question coming up with many different answers!



So what is our purpose here? We have to be breathing for a reason...right?? I sure hope so!

Is it to have the coolest job? Have the most money? Have many fans and friends? Have the best kids? Or is it to find true love?

Is our purpose in life to have great success???



Many people believe that success is our sole purpose in life! Wow....I would definitely be failing in life then...just saying!!

But once you get to the end of your life does money, love, jobs, house, etc really matter?

As believers we live for something so, so much more!

We live for Christ!!

Which, can I just say, is the greatest honor given to mankind?!?

God created us in the very beginning of time to glorify and praise Him!

We live for something greater than ourselves! Sure, we think that we are pretty great and that living for ourselves wouldn't be so bad, but it is so pointless!!!

Can you take success, money, fame, friends, and family with you once to die? We would like to think we could...but we can't!

So glorifying God is the number one purpose of life!!

It honestly just makes sense that we should worship and glorify the very being that created and brought us to life!!!!

Spreading the gospel to unbelievers is another one of our purposes in life!!



God commanded us to share the gospel!!! And why wouldn't we want to??

If you know something exciting and it has drastically changed your life don't you want to share it with everyone?? Sure!! It is something exciting and important to you and you just want everyone else to share in the excitement!!
For example...you found your soul-mate...the love of your life!!! You are so excited and happy that you just want everyone else around you happy too... so you try to match up your friends and make them happy!!!

How is that any different than wanting to share God's love and redemption story with everyone around? Except for the fact that a person's eternal salvation is on the line, while match-making friends isn't!!

Our purpose in life is to glorify God and share the gospel!!! Not too hard right?? Hahaha... if only our own selfish desires didn't get in the way... right?

Loving When It's Hard

Love is hard!

Love is patient
Love is kind
Love does not envy or boast
Love is not arrogant
Love is not rude
Love does not insist on its own way
Love doesn't rejoice at the wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
LOVE NEVER ENDS!!!
(paraphrased from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

When we say the word 'love' what is the image that comes to your mind?

Typically we see something like this....




A romantic relationship between two people.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about romantic interests in this post! That shall be for a different post one day!
No, this post is about loving when it's hard (in case you didn't catch that from the title!!) like...loving your enemies; the people that dislike you and bully you!

Now, I have never been bullied before...like ever! In fact I have pretty much always been the more popular kid...or at least liked by the majority of the group!

So when I started working I fully expected to be liked...or at the very least...tolerated! Well, one of my co-workers in particular absolutely hated me...and still does! She  gossiped behind my back (not very well though...because I could normally hear this person), said nasty things to my face, tried to make me fail and make things harder for me, etc! It was extremely eye opening and extremely hurtful! Thankfully friends at work told me to brush it off and not let it get to me! They continued to build me up and encourage me, which really helped!

When this person started bullying me, I was angry (I still am sometimes)! I wanted to retaliate ( I still do sometimes!)! When I told my parents just how nasty this person was being, they encouraged me to love her and befriend her because she is clearly hurting and feels insecure in herself. I realized that God has placed her in my life for a reason. And since my sole purpose on this earth is to glorify god and share the gospel....I'm thinking that showing Christ's love is my answer! I felt inspired...I thought, "I'm going to love her, just like Christ loved(s) me! When she says hateful things , I'm going to respond with encouragement!" I went into work the next day feeling ready for whatever this girl might throw at me! And then it happened...she said something very hurtful....and I messed up, it was something small...I can't really remember, but that mistake lead to a string of nasty words and hateful looks! Without a second thought, adrenaline and anger running thorough my veins...I responded...perfectly, I might add if my goal was to be just as nasty as this girl!

Right after I said those words, I wished I could take them back, I remembered my goal and mission....to love her and show her Christ's love! Yeah I blew that one! I debated on whether or not to apologize, after all my response was totally justifiable and I had a right to feel that way! However, I started to feel guilty so I had to put my pride aside and apologize.

After apologizing and trying to purposefully treat her with kindness...it still hasn't changed her attitude or ways, but one day I pray that God will use this very messed up sacrifice of love to bring her to Himself!

I certainly don't do things perfectly! I could certainly treat her with more love and kindness! Her words still hurt and sting, but this is where God has me right now and He will give me the strength and patience and love to get through it!

View your bullies and enemies as your mission-field! Show Christ's love to them even when it's hard and trust me...it will be VERY hard!

Hope this encouraged you guys!!
I love you all!
Keep walking the straight and narrow!
Love,
Cait