(If you have found this sermon helpful, please visit us at www.HeritageRestorationProject.org or www.ChristianWisdom.info)
A truck driver was hauling a load of 100 penguins to the zoo. Unfortunately, his truck broke down. He eventually waved down another truck and offered the driver $500 to take the penguins to the zoo.
The next day the first truck driver got his truck fixed and drove into town and couldn’t believe his eyes! Just ahead of him he saw the second truck driver crossing the road with the 100 penguins waddling single file behind him. He jumped out of his truck, ran up to the guy and said, “What’s going on? I gave you $500 to take these penguins to the zoo!” To which the man responded, “I did take them to the zoo. But I had enough money left over so now we’re going to the movies.”
That man didn’t fully understand what he was supposed to be doing. Sometimes this is where we are Christians get into trouble. We don’t exactly know what we are supposed to be doing. And this can be frustrating. As Christians we may say to ourselves, “I know that Jesus loves me and I love him. I know that I am saved and that I should love others. But what exactly is my purpose? What am I as a Christian disciple supposed to be doing at this stage in my life?”
A careful reading of Colossians 1:24-2:3, may help answer that question. This passage contains six statements of purpose by which Paul explains his “purpose”; i.e., the thing that he feels called to accomplish in his life. These same six statements of purpose may help us find our calling as well. Each of us needs a sense of purpose, regardless of our skill level, preparation, professional occupation, mental and physical fitness, health, age, or life expectancy, and these few verses from Colossians point the way.
The first purpose that we as Christians might well see as our own is probably not particularly appealing, yet it is worth noting. Colossians 1:24 makes it clear that Paul saw suffering as part of his job description. Suffering is, of course, an inescapable part of life, and, the Lord will always help us through it. But I don’t think it is the general type of suffering common to all people to which Paul is referring. I think he is referring to the sacrifice, rejection, humiliation, and persecution commonly experienced as result of our efforts to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. Remember the words of Jesus, “Take up your cross and follow” (Matthew 16:24), and “Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matthew 5:11). There is a certain amount of difficulty and self-sacrifice that comes about as the result of our efforts to follow Christ. And it is this kind of suffering that Paul is talking about. This type of suffering is part of every Christian’s job description, at least it should be.
Even though Paul suffered because of being a follower of Christ, he rejoiced because he knew that his suffering was the confirmation that he was in fact following Christ. Jesus had taught: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). In 2 Corinthians 7:4 Paul writes, “…In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds”.
Paul suffered much on account of the Gospel, and yet, for him it was a joy. Listen to what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, “Five times I received from the Jews … forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” It is unlikely that any of us will ever have this much “opportunity for rejoicing”, but as Christians we will all have at least some measure of the difficulty that results from being a Christian, or at least we should have. It’s part of our job description
And even if we do not experience a measure of suffering similar to that of the Apostle Paul on account of our Christian testimony, still, the manner in which we respond to the “garden variety” of suffering, the suffering shared by all humanity not just the Christian, can and should be a part of our Christian “job description”. In this case, it is not the suffering itself but rather the way in which we react to the suffering that is an important part of our job description.
The manner in which we handle the difficulties we experience in life is observed by non-Christians and plays a role in shaping their understanding not only of us as individuals but of Christianity in general. If we respond with faith, trust and hope, that becomes a testimony, maybe not in words but in what is often even more influential, our actions. Therefore, let us turn to the Lord in all difficulties, and, even rejoice with Paul in all our difficulties to the extent these difficulties become an opportunity to love more, to trust more, to hope more, and thus to demonstrate our faith more to others.
Every difficulty of every kind provides an opportunity for witnessing for Christ. This is a part of our job description. As Christians, it is a part of our purpose, and it can provide us with a sense of purpose if we are aware of it. I want you to be aware of it, and am telling you this today because I want each of you to know that we have purpose, regardless of how old or at what stage in life we may be. And maybe we might even rejoice a bit when difficulties come because these difficulties provide an opportunity to grow in faith and to witness to others.
In 1 Peter 4:12-13 we read: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” And in Romans 5:3-4 we are invited to rejoice in our suffering because “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”.
The second statement of purpose for the Christian disciple, servanthood is found in Colossians 1:25-27 (NIV). Here we read, “I have become (the church’s) servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.
Following the example of Jesus (see Matthew 20:25b-28), Paul reminds us that each of us is called to servanthood; i.e., ministry. Jesus was the supreme example in Paul’s life, and, Paul was fully devoted to following Him wholeheartedly. Paul was entrusted with the Gospel so that he might share it. So too, each of us who know the Word are called to share it, not only by what we say but also by what we do. That is part of our job description as Christians, and it is part of our purpose. Paul knew that he had been entrusted with this task, and because of knowing this, he had a sense of purpose. As Christians, each of us is called to participate in that task, and knowing this will provide each of us with a sense of purpose. Regardless of our age, regardless of our circumstances, we have this precious and important purpose which gives meaning to our life.
We come now to our third purpose, that purpose being to grow into the likeness of Christ; i.e., into “Christian perfection”, and, to encourage others to grow into Christian perfection. Look now at Colossians 1:28 where we read: “We proclaim (the Lord), admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Paul didn’t hold back when he thought someone needed to be warned about what they were doing or about what they believed. We must be admonished if we are to grow as Christians, and therefore, we are to respect those who admonish us. Each of us, like Paul, has a responsibility to warn and admonish others. We are to warn them as a brother would warn a brother or as a sister would warn a sister, with concern for their welfare. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NASB), for example, we read, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” And in Colossians 3:16 we read, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
A major part of our purpose as Christians is to admonish one another in a spirit of love, as well as receive warning and correction when we ourselves are in need of it. To effectively encourage others in their growth as Christian disciples, our actions must match our words. And on occasion we ourselves may need reproof and correction. That is sometimes necessary if we are to grow as Christian disciples. We are called to continuing growing in the ways of the Lord throughout of life, and to help others grow. That is part of our job description as Christians. And when we know this and are engaged in it, we find purpose regardless of our age or circumstances.
A fourth sense of purpose gained from understanding our job description as a follower of Christ is that we push forward not in our own energy but in, by and through the energy of Christ living within us. Look now at Colossians 1:29 (Today’s Living Version) where Paul writes: “To this end I labor, struggling with all His strength which is powerfully at work in me.”
As Christians, part of our purpose is to strive so mightily that we become spiritually fatigued in order to move people toward full devotion to Christ. That is part of our purpose. But notice that Paul never claims to work in his own strength; instead he relies on the power of Christ as he struggles. Since, as Christians, Christ is in us, He will provide us with the strength and energy we need as we labor to help others grow into Christian maturity. One of the great purposes we find in knowing this is that we will seek to surrender to the Lord working in and through us. That is part of our job description, and knowing this can give every Christian a sense of purpose regardless of age or circumstances.
The fifth purpose in life for the Christian is to enrich the lives of others spiritually through encouragement. Paul writes in Colossians 2:2 (NIV): “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Paul gave similar instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NIV): “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are now doing.” God can use each Christian to encourage others when they are discouraged, and that is part of our job description as Christians. Knowing this can provide a sense of purpose regardless of your age or circumstances.
Finally, the sixth great purpose in life is for the Christian is to learn delight in obedience, your own, and also the growth obedience to God in those for whom you are modeling Christ. Paul writes to the Colossians 2:5 (NIV), “I … delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ.” Even as Christ was obedient to the Heavenly Father (see Philippians 2:8), so too each Christian is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, which frequently means that we will be called to be obedient to requests of persons in need, so long as those requests do not violate the dictates of our conscience (see Luke 6:30-31). We are to serve each other in Christian obedience. The Holy Spirit often calls us to serve others as Christ served us (see John 13:12-17). How much easier and better the obedience if we, as Christians, were to learn to delight in obedience! This too is a purpose that all Christians share, regardless of age or circumstances.
If you feel a bit aimless, without purpose in life, then I encourage you to seek your purpose in these six areas suggested by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:24-2:3. Are you suffering joyfully for the gospel? Are you serving, participating in the sharing the Word of God? Are you moving people to maturity? Are you yielding to Christ’s energy, the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him to work in and through you with His energy? Are you enriching the lives of others? Are you delighting in Christian discipline, in obedience to God’s Word? This is our common job description, our purpose, as followers of Christ. These are the purposes of Christian discipleship.
Having purpose in life regardless of age and circumstances is very important. A sense of purpose helps us find meaning in our existence, and this is so very important for us all. In knowing and understanding our purpose as followers of Christ and children of God, each of us will experience unshakable meaning and purpose in our living, regardless of our age or circumstances. And this sense of meaning and purpose is a wonderful gift from God from whom all blessings flow.
(If you found this sermon to be helpful, please visit us at www.HeritageRestorationProject.org)
