Fulfilling God’s Unique Purpose for Our Lives
Intro: Success is about faithfulness, service, and fulfilling the unique purpose God has for each of us.
Scripture:
Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah 53:10-11,
Hebrews 4:14-16,
Mark 10:35-45.
Reflection
Success is a word that evokes varied responses, depending on who you ask. Many interpret it as becoming the best in their field, being acknowledged as superior to others, or possibly amassing greater riches, status, or notoriety than their contemporaries. This societally accepted notion of success appears to be consistent with the attitude, James and John had towards Jesus in the Gospel of Mark today. Not only did they want to be close to Him, but they also made an aspirational plea for superiority when they asked to sit at His right and left hands in glory. To them, leading the pack and having a close relationship with authority were indicators of success. However, Jesus flips that understanding on its head, as He so frequently does. He teaches them that achieving success is about realising the special purpose that God has for each individual, not about winning over others or gaining positions of authority.
There are numerous instances of this type of thinking in everyday life. As an example, consider John, a young man. John experienced constant comparisons to others from a young age, mostly from his parents and teachers. His older brother excelled academically; he constantly achieved the top grades, took home honours, and was awarded scholarships. It was only natural that John would be expected to emulate his brother and equal or even exceed his accomplishments. His family defined success as doing well in school, getting into a prestigious field, and making a good living. This also established John's standards for success. Despite his best efforts to meet expectations, despite his long hours of study and hard work, he was never able to live up to them.
Even after landing a lucrative job at a global corporation, John still did not feel satisfied. He was moving up the corporate ladder, earning a respectable salary, and all the outward signs of success, but he felt uncomfortable inside. John did not start asking himself more in-depth questions until much later in life, following a time of personal struggle. But what if being better than his brother is not the only way to succeed? What if the life God planned for him was more about achieving a special goal that only he could achieve than it was about competing with anyone?
He had neglected teaching for a long time, but this reflective moment made him rediscover it. John had always enjoyed helping his friends with their schoolwork as a child, explaining complex ideas in a way that they could grasp. However, he had written it off since it did not seem as respectable or lucrative as other professions. But as he took stock of his life, he developed a fresh perspective on teaching. It was not about obtaining fame or fortune; rather, it was about fostering others' development and changing the world in a way that only he could. Thus, John took a risky course of action. He quit his lucrative corporate job to pursue a career as a teacher.
His friends and family initially questioned his decision. They found it incomprehensible that he would abandon such a "successful" career for something so banal. But John felt that he was finally in line with his true calling for the first time in his life. He no longer measured his success by competing with others, but by playing the special role that God had for him. His life became an example of how realising and pursuing God's plan for us is what truly defines success rather than worldly accomplishments.
This leads us to the central lesson that Jesus imparts to James and John. Jesus gently corrected them, telling them they did not understand what they were asking for, while they sought fame and recognition. He introduced them to a fresh perspective on success—one that is based on service and accomplishing each person's individual purpose for God, rather than on ambition or rivalry.
Let us look at another example that differs from John's story. Sonia was a young woman whose idea of success was completely different. Sonia possessed a strong sense of compassion and a strong desire to assist those in need from an early age. Sonia felt called to a life of service, while her peers went into law, business, and technology. She had no desire to become well-known or wealthy; instead, her passion was improving the lives of the underprivileged and marginalised. Following her college graduation, she became employed by a nonprofit organisation that catered to refugees.
Her job was not glamorous, and it was also not very lucrative. She had days when it was difficult for her to make ends meet, and many of her friends did not understand why she did not try to get a "better" job. However, Sonia had a strong sense of fulfilment in her life. She could see the results of her work right away every day. She comforted those who had lost everything, helped families find housing, and helped kids get an education. The ability of Sonia to fulfil the calling that God had given her life was the true measure of her success, not the standards of this world. She was just following the path that had been set out for her, one that brought her closer to God's plan for her life, and she was not competing with anyone.
Sonia's story is a lovely example of how Jesus defined success as serving the specific purpose that God has for each individual rather than trying to be better than others. Mary, the mother of Jesus, serves as an example of it. Mary did not choose to become pregnant for Jesus because of any personal desire or effort on her part. The part was always hers; she did not have to earn it. However, when the time came, God asked for her assistance. Mary's answer of "yes" to God is the epitome of success. Her life was lived with humility and faith, accepting God's plan rather than striving for greatness as the world defines it.
We should all take heed of this important reminder. The gospel presents a very different viewpoint from one that is continuously urging us to compete, accomplish more, and be the best. This indicates that attaining success does not entail dominating others or standing at the top of the ladder. Identifying God's will for our lives and faithfully carrying it out is what success is really all about. Every individual was endowed with a distinct purpose at birth, and these purposes differ from person to person. Some people, like Sonia, might interpret it as a life of quiet service. For some, like John, it might entail putting their skills to greater use in a more visible capacity as teachers. What matters is whether we are carrying out the role that God has given us, not how we perform in comparison to others.
The contemporary definition of success fosters unhealthy rivalry and competition, which is one of its issues. This is evident in a lot of spheres of life, including families, the workplace, and schools. Individuals always want to be better and accomplish more, so they compare themselves to others frequently. However, this way of thinking frequently results in annoyance and a feeling of inadequateness. No matter what we accomplish, there will always be someone better off than us. When they requested to sit at Jesus' right and left hands, James and John fell into this trap. They had success in the material world in mind, as well as positions of honour and authority. But Jesus shows them the way to success that is different—it has less to do with rivalry and more to do with fulfilling God's purpose for each person.
This does not imply that ambition is always a negative thing. As long as ambition is focused on the correct objectives, it can be constructive. The important thing is to make sure that our goals are not motivated by a need for fame or power but rather by God's plan for our life. Though misdirected, James and John had a lot of ambition. Jesus showed them that real glory comes from serving others and carrying out God's will, even though they still desired glory.
We are frequently told in today's society that we can be anything we want to be. The intention behind this message is to inspire individuals to follow their aspirations. However, it might also be deceptive. James and John are told by Jesus, "You do not know what you are asking." The same is true for desires; just because we may think we want a particular career, role, or way of life, it does not always follow that it is what God wants for us. Seeking and obeying God's will, even when it takes us in unexpected directions, is the path to true success rather than chasing our own desires.
God has a purpose for each and every one of us, according to the predestination doctrine. This is not a random plan; rather, it is customised to fit our unique selves and the abilities and skills God has given us. God makes every person ready for their specific role in the world, just as He made Mary ready to be the mother of Jesus. This does not negate our capacity for free will. We always have the option to follow our own path or to collaborate with God's plan. However, genuine achievement arises from accepting God's will for our lives and saying "yes," just like Mary did.
God's definition of success differs greatly from the world's, and this must be kept in mind as we consider what success really means. Success in the eyes of the outside world is defined by wealth, power, and recognition. However, success in God's eyes is about serving Him, remaining faithful, and achieving the special purpose He has for each of us. It is about making the most of the abilities and skills He has given us, not so much to outdo each other but to advance His kingdom and the common good.
Success ultimately has nothing to do with our standing in relation to others. The question is whether we have answered God's call on our lives with faithfulness. We are all made for a specific purpose, and real success comes from achieving that purpose.
May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen…
