Why are we here? What is the purpose of our earthly life? According to the Bible, your life on earth is not about you. It’s not about proving your worth or earning your salvation. Life is about God. Your life is about bringing glory to God by joining in his mission in the world. If you have put your faith in Jesus, you are already worthy in God’s sight because of what Jesus has done for you. Now, having been made a new person, you are called to be part of God’s greater purpose.
God Calls Average People to Represent Him
When Jesus came, he chose regular people to be his disciples. The people he chose to change the world were not highly educated, wealthy, or prominent (Acts 4:13). They were not members of the religious elite. They were laborers and bureaucrats (Matthew 4:18-20; Luke 5:27-28). When his time on earth was complete, he gathered these followers and gave them a great purpose. It’s called the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
In this passage, we have Jesus’s command, we have his authority, and we have his presence. The mission he gave us is to “make disciples” – in other words, to invite others to embrace him and follow him. This commission involves three actions: going, baptizing, and teaching.
- Going starts in our own home town (Acts 1:8; Mark 5:19).
- Baptism is a sign of following Jesus, not of joining some particular church. It is an outward evidence of identifying with Jesus and his people.
- Teaching involves training people to live a life of obedience to Jesus – which includes making disciples. Again, this is not just for a few religious leaders or special missionaries, but applies to everyone who would be considered a disciple.
[Related: Three Types of “Almost” Disciples]
[Related: Why Make Disciples?]
God’s Purpose Involves Serving Others
Christianity, like Mormonism, involves serving. Again, we get this directly from Jesus.
John 13:12-15 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
Jesus was the ultimate servant, and he directed his people to follow his example. One difference is that you have the freedom to choose where you want to serve, based on your own abilities and interests (1 Peter 4:10-11), realizing that serving is not an obligation but an act of love.
Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
There are ways to serve in your neighborhood and community, but if you benefit from a church’s ministry, it makes sense to consider serving there as well (Galatians 6:9-10). Don’t wait around for someone to give you a calling. A church will announce opportunities to help in certain ministries, and someone may invite you to consider a certain role, but it’s up to you to take initiative and to evaluate opportunities for yourself. If you see a need that sparks your interest, don’t hesitate to volunteer.
[Related: The Selfless Servant]
[Related: Serving in Your New Church After Mormonism]
God’s Purpose Calls for Investing Our Resources
God has chosen to accomplish his purpose in the world through people, giving us the opportunity to grow and develop as we serve. This involves not only our time and talents but also our treasure.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
Giving to God is different from tithing to a church. How you give is between you and God (Matthew 6:2-4), You aren’t accountable to any human authority. The Bible teaches proportional giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), but there is no set percentage required to please God (Mark 12:41-44). If you’ve been blessed a lot, give back a lot. If only a little, give back a little. You have the freedom and responsibility to give whatever you have decided in your heart to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) – although 10% is a reasonable starting point.
[Related: Three Metrics for Giving as a Christian]
[Related: What About Tithing? (Mormon vs. Christian)]
The Bible says that where we invest our money reveals what really matters in our hearts.
Matthew 6:19-21 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
God owns everything we have, so we use it all to honor him (Psalm 24:1). Giving expresses that his priorities matter more than having more for ourselves. Giving to God’s work is an act of trust (1 Timothy 6:17) and of worship (2 Corinthians 8:5). It’s a way to make a difference for others in this world and for things that matter in eternity (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
[Related: Giving (Basic Practices for Growing Christians)]
[Related: Following God’s Financial Game Plan]
God’s Greatest Purpose Is to Help Others Follow Him
As Jesus said in Matthew 28, his main purpose for us is to make disciples.
2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
This verse depicts several generations of Christians, each one discipling or mentoring the next, so that the faith is passed on and multiplies. This is so much more than leading people to join a church. It involves coming alongside people to help them become fully devoted and fully-formed followers of Jesus (Colossians 1:28), who increasingly reflect Jesus’s own character and purpose in life (Galatians 4:19).
[Related: Understanding Relational Discipleship]
To make Christian maturity simple to understand, we talk about “full circle” Christians. The circle of maturity consists of three stages.
- We start by trusting Jesus. The Christian life begins when we cross the line of faith, entrusting our life and eternity to Jesus. Then we continue to live by faith from then on.
- We live to honor God. As we mature, the focus shifts from us to God. We start to care about what he cares about. We want to please him in our lives.
- We mature by helping others. Further maturity brings an investment, not just in our own relationship with God, but in others around us, as we help others start the circle and move forward on it.
In brief, your purpose in life is to go full circle and help others go full circle. As we do this, Jesus’s mandate to make disciples will be fulfilled.
[Related: Understanding a Full Circle Pursuit of God]
[Related: Becoming a Disciple-Maker]
You are never too new in the Christian faith to have an impact on others. You don’t have to be a Bible expert. You just need to be one step ahead, and willing to take the initiative. The resources at pursueGOD.org are designed to make it possible for anyone to help another person grow. They will empower you with the tools and methods, and as you help others pursue God, your faith will blossom as well. So consider reaching out to a friend, family member, or neighbor to walk with them until they can also help someone else pursue God.
Biblical and doctrinal knowledge is important. But your purpose on earth is not just to gain more knowledge. Involvement in a church family is important. But your purpose on earth is not just to go to church activities. Living a moral life that honors God is important. But being a good person is not your purpose on earth. You can only start living out your full purpose as a follower of Jesus when you begin to make disciples. There are people in your world who need your help. Are you willing to invest in them?
[Related: Purpose Over Pointlessness]
Be sure to discuss the questions below to explore and apply these concepts more fully.
