Life Purpose: My Story

MBA610: Corporate and Personal Ethics

October 12, 2015

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Part 1: Defining Life Purpose

What is Life Purpose?

Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? How do I maximize my time here on earth? These

are questions that each person asks throughout his life as he seeks to live out his ultimate calling

and purpose during his short time on earth. While the desire to seek purpose is a universal desire,

the perspective on how to achieve that purpose is much debated. Three of the most common

perspectives are the secular, Buddhist, and Biblical, and each one emphasizes different steps and

methods of achieving one’s life purpose. For example, the secular view focuses on self-

actualization and fulfillment, while the Biblical view says that our purpose is based solely on

God’s purpose. In this section, we will dig a little deeper into each of the three perspectives and

examine different views on how one realizes and maximizes his ultimate purpose in life.

Secular View

A secular view of life purpose is based on passion, action, and personal fulfillment. A purposeful

life is the sum of passion and daily action, and “the real purpose of anyone’s life is to be fully

involved in living. Try to be present for the journey and fully embrace it….Enjoy the journey

into your own awesome life” (Kaiser). Therefore, having a fulfilling life is based on self-

actualization, personal fulfillment, and the daily actions that lead to them. If one is passionate

and content with where he is in life, he has reached his ultimate life purpose. According to

Kaiser, below are the three steps needed in order to achieve life purpose:

1. Get more action.

2. Drop from your head to your heart.

3. Break up with the “one.”

Step 1: Get more action.

The first step towards achieving one’s life purpose is to get more action. In other words, do more

physically in order to discover what your true passions are. “Clarity comes through the process

of exploring. Action is where you get results” (Kaiser). The main difference between this step

and other perspectives on life purpose is that it has no reliance on God or a greater being for

answers. There is no prayer or meditation involved in this step, and physical action is the most

important aspect of finding life’s purpose. By this view, praying and waiting for God’s provision

is not a method of finding one’s life purpose.

Step 2: Drop from your head to your heart.

The second step is to drop from your head to your heart. In other words, do what you love

instead of merely what you think you should be doing. “By doing what you love, you will be

inspired to gain insights into what brings you the most joy” (Kaiser). From this step, it is evident

that the focus is on personal joy and doing what one personally loves for fulfillment. The

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primary implication of this step is that one cannot live a purposeful life if he is doing something

that does not make him happy. For example, if a doctor does not enjoy or feel passionate about

his job, he will never reach a purposeful life until he quits his job and pursues something he feels

passionate about. If an artist is debating between keeping a desk job to pay her rent or risking

poverty by pursuing her artistic passions, she must go with the latter in order to fulfill her life’s

purpose.

Step 3: Break up with the “one.”

The final step taken to achieve life purpose is the break up with the “one.” This means that you

must break away from the one thing you are currently focused on and explore different hobbies.

By trying new things and actively searching for potential hobbies, one is aiming to achieve his

maximum life’s purpose. For example, an artist who is pursuing art as a passion is fulfilling life’s

purpose. However, perhaps that artist has an undiscovered passion for music. If the artist does

not follow this step and pursue other hobbies, the artist will never discover his passion for music

and therefore never maximize his life purpose.

Conclusion

A secular view of a purposeful life emphasizes personal fulfillment and self-actualization

through pursuing one’s passions and hobbies. This perspective does not acknowledge God, a

higher being, or other people in one’s life. For example, finding one’s life purpose does not take

into account one’s spouse, family members, or friends. Rather, by seeking one’s personal

passions and hobbies, he is living a completely fulfilled life. In a culture that increasingly

focuses on independence and self, the secular perspective is gaining popularity. The quote

“follow your dreams!” is displayed all across America, and this quote aligns with a secular

perspective. By actively seeking new and unique hobbies and passions, one is ultimately seeking

his ultimate life purpose.

Buddhist View

According to Thera the Buddhist view believes that “man is the highest fruit on the tree of

evolution. It is for man to realize his position in nature and understand the true meaning of his

life.” In order to discover one’s purpose in life, you must first reflect on life and man through

reflection and religion. This ultimately results in realization of what your purpose in life is.

Below are the four steps taken in order to discover the purpose of life:

1. Understand the nature of man

2. Understand the nature of life

3. Understand the need for religion

4. Realization

Step 1: Understand the nature of man

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The first step towards discovering one’s purpose in life is to understand the nature of man. “He

has yet to learn how his mind can be developed to its fullest potential so that its true nature can

be realized” (Thera). Without fully understanding the nature of man, he will become self-seeking

and end up pretending to know what the answers are. According to this step, “man must make an

effort to overcome ignorance to arrive at realization. All great men are born as human beings

from the womb, but they worked their way up to greatness. Even the Buddha had to cultivate His

mind to realize the real nature of man” (Thera). In order to understand the nature of man, one

must be constantly changing, evolving, and becoming a more wholesome person. He must

realize that every action and step taking in a day make up who he is and who he is becoming.

Over time, one discovers the nature of man.

Step 2: Understand the nature of life

The second step is to understand the nature of life. At this point, one has come to an

understanding of the nature of man and realizes that he is constantly evolving and changing.

Understanding the meaning of life means coming to the realization that life is uncertain, but

death is certain. “One way of understanding life is to face and understand death which is nothing

more than a temporary end to a temporary existence” (Thera). When one has fully understood the

meaning of death, it is no longer scary. In addition, to coming to an understanding about death,

one must also come to a better understanding of life. “We are living a life that does not always

proceed as smoothly as we would like it to. We should not be afraid of them because the

penetration into the very nature of these problems and difficulties can provide us with a deeper

insight into life” (Thera). In other words, life struggles actually grant us a better understanding of

life itself and place us closer to understanding the true purpose of life.

Step 3: Understand the need for religion

The third step in discovering life’s purpose is to understand and accept the need for religion.

Religion in the Buddhist sense is different than in the Christian sense. This includes following a

moral system that encourages good works and the purification of the mind. Religion in the

Buddhist sense “strive to attain harmony with nature and spiritual satisfaction…and is the

expression of the striving man: it is his greatest power, leading him onwards to self-realization”

(Thera). In addition, religion shows us how to calm our minds, do good works, and be content

with where we are in live. By the Buddhist perspective, money and material goods are not

fulfilling, and one must strive to live in harmony through religion.

Step 4: Realization

The final step in achieving life’s purpose is realization. At this point, one understands the nature

of life, man, and religion, which means that he is living in contentment and looking beyond

himself to a higher purpose. Because he understands life, he realizes that daily struggles are a

means for one to constantly evolve and become a better person. Realization is also the

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acceptance of the Law of Karma and life after death. According to the Law of Karma, “rebirth

will take place according to the quality of his deeds. When a person understands the Law of

Karma, he will then make the effort to refrain from performing bad actions, and to try to

cultivate the good” (Thera). Realization is ultimately the process of realizing that there are much

higher goals to be set in life than just his own self-pursuits, and good deeds and harmony with

nature is the key to a high rebirth. At this step, one is full of wisdom and has “greater awareness

to all forms of life and better understanding of his own thoughts, feelings, and motivations”

(Thera).

Conclusion

The Buddhist perspective of finding life’s purpose is primarily based on inner reflection and

meditation in order to understand the meaning of man, nature, and religion. As one works

through the first three steps, he is gaining wisdom and understanding, as well as greater harmony

with nature. He will ultimately come to the realization phase, where he has the greatest level of

wisdom and no long lives for his own self-pursuits but for good deeds towards other. This view

differs with the secular view, because it is primarily based on self-reflection, rather than actions

and seeking personal interests. In addition, as we will see in the next section, this view also

differs from the Biblical perspective, because it focuses on one’s personal path to realization,

rather than seeing a greater purpose for one God. If one comes to the realization step and lives

for a greater purpose through the Law of Karma, he has found his life purpose.

Biblical View

The Biblical view of life’s purpose is unique, because its focus is not on self-actualization and

personal fulfillment but on God’s purpose. Life’s purpose is far more than having personal peace

and happiness. It is more than having a successful career, a healthy family, or the highest level of

education. “Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of

nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting

God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose” (Warren 24). Romans

8:6 emphasizes this by saying, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on

the Spirit is life and peace.” Therefore, the key to finding your purpose in life by a Biblical

perspective is to being with God. “You were born by his purpose and for his purpose” (Warren

23). God has five purposes for us, as compiled by Rick Warren, and they are listed below:

1. Purpose 1: You were planned for God’s Pleasure

2. Purpose 2: You were formed for God’s family

3. Purpose 3: You were created to become like Christ

4. Purpose 4: You were shaped for serving God

5. Purpose 5: You were made for a mission

Purpose 1: You were planned for God’s Pleasure.

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The first purpose in life is to give God pleasure and glory. God created Adam and Eve to carry

on his creation by multiplying and subduing the earth, and Psalm 149:4 says, “For the Lord takes

pleasure in his people.” One of God’s greatest gifts to humanity is the ability to feel pleasure and

adoration. “We often forget that God has emotions too. He feels things very deeply. The Bible

tells us that God grieves, gets jealous and angry, and feels compassion, pity, sorrow, and

sympathy” (Warren 64). Through worship and adoration, we bring pleasure to God, and this

partially fulfills our purpose in life.

We bring pleasure to God through all forms of worship, and “the Lord takes pleasure in those

who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 147:11). One common

misconception is that the only way to worship is through music, but in actuality, “every part of a

church service is an act of worship: praying, Scripture reading, singing, confession, silence,

being still…and even greeting other worshippers” (Warren 65). In order to fulfill this purpose

and bring pleasure to God, we must constantly thank and worship Him, whether that is through

church services, music, or attributing every professional success to God’s provision.

Purpose 2: You were formed for God’s family.

God is love, and the foundation of the Bible is based on relationships and love. God even

identifies Himself in terms of family relationships with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

“When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become his children, other

believers become our brothers and sisters, and the church become our spiritual family” (Warren

118). 1 John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called

children of God; and so we are.” Based on God’s emphasis on family and becoming His

children, one of our primary purposes in life is to be a member of God’s family.

In order to fulfill this purpose, we must constantly seek God and place our faith in Him. This

involves prayer and complete servanthood and sacrifice. Just as a wedding ring is a symbol of

marriage, one way to demonstrate your membership in God’s family is through baptism. There

are great rewards that come along with being one of God’s children. “God has reserved a

priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the

reach of change and decay” (Warren 119). Therefore, you were formed for God’s family, and

this is one of your primary purposes in life.

Purpose 3: You were created to become like Christ.

In the beginning, man was created in God’s image. We were made into spiritual beings with

characteristics similar to God: “our spirits are immortal and will outlast our earthly bodies; we

are intellectual; like God, we are relational – we can give and receive love; and we have a moral

consciousness – and we can discern right from wrong, which makes us accountable to God”

(Warren 172). Although we are made in God’s image, we can never become God, but our

purpose in life is to become more like Christ through spiritual and character development.

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Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the

image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” This passage

demonstrates our purpose in becoming more like Christ, and it also relates back to becoming a

member of God’s family (purpose 2).

Fulfilling this life purpose is rooted in prayer and a knowledge and application of the Bible.

Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate

hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must

forgive.” Therefore, fulfilling this life purpose is a life-long journey in prayer and spiritual

development. For example, if a business leader suddenly realizes that he is accepting the

business’s success for his own glory and decides to pray for humility, he has just moved one step

closer to becoming more like Christ. Therefore, you were created to become like Christ, and this

is one of your life purposes.

Purpose 4: You were shaped for serving God.

God created Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it (Gen. 1:28).

Therefore, we were not just created to take from the earth but to serve and add to it. 1

Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building,”

and God demonstrates over and over again in the Bible that he can use even the least of us has

His workers. Rahab was a prostitute, Abraham was old, and Leah was not beautiful, but God

used each of them to serve His greater purpose. “God redeemed you so you could do his ‘holy

work.’ You’re not saved by service, but you are saved for service. In God’s kingdom, you have a

place, a purpose, a role, and a function to fulfill” (Warren 228). Being saved for service is best

described in Ephesians 2:10, which says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Fulfilling this purpose in life is ultimately about glorifying God in all that you do and making

disciples of all nations. “Your daily work is ultimately an act of worship to the god who called

and equipped you to do it,” and this means that even a seemingly insignificant desk job can have

great significance in God’s kingdom (Keller 71). Our ultimate call to service is the Great

Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), which says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to

observe all that I have commanded you.” By sharing God’s love and glorifying Him through

even our most mundane tasks, we are fulfilling this part of our life purpose.

Purpose 5: You were made for a mission.

You were made for a mission, which is ultimately to continue Jesus’s work here on earth. “As

followers, we are to continue what Jesus started. Jesus calls us not only to come to him, but to go

for him” (Warren 282). Our mission is composed of two parts: shared and specific. “One part of

it is a responsibility you share with every other Christian, and the other part is an assignment that

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is unique to you” (Warren 281). In other words, each person has the mission to share Jesus with

everyone, but each person is also given a unique calling and role within that shared mission.

There is significant weight on this life purpose, because knowing God’s word without putting it

into action or having mission is useless. Acts 20:24 says, “But I do not account my life of any

value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received

from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” This passage explains that life

has no value is one’s overall mission and ministry goals are not fulfilled. One way to fulfill this

life purpose is by redirecting yourself to God as the audience of One. The CEO of a large

company should attribute his successes to God and also act as though God is his only audience

member. One example of recalibration to see God as an audience of one is through King Naaman

in the Old Testament. He says, “I will still serve my nation, but I will no longer worship my

nation. Syria’s national interests are important to me, but are no longer my ultimate value or

god” (Keller 235). Therefore, aligning our mission with God’s mission and serving Him as an

audience one is the best way to achieve this life purpose.

Conclusion

A Biblical perspective of Life’s Purpose is unique, because it focuses on God rather than self-

actualization and personal fulfillment or pleasure. Compiled by Rick Warren, there are five main

aspects of our life purpose that ultimate point back to God and His love for us. These purposes

include pleasing God, being one of His children, becoming more like Christ, service, and

fulfilling His mission. It is important to note that it is impossible to complete a Biblical life

purpose with perfection, and the beauty of this perspective is that God is constantly giving us the

grace and forgiveness that we desperately need as sinners.

Part 2: My Personal Journey and Life Purpose

My Personal Life Statement

A life purpose statement “simply captures an overriding theme already present in your life. It

puts down in words the true work you are here to do: the cause you will pursue, the wound in

individuals or society you will seek to heal, the problem you will devote your life to fixing. It

states the highest, purest, most others-oriented aim of your life” (Rose). These statements are

broad but also carry many implications; they represent the path you would like to take and the

overall themes that direct each decision you make. While daily actions and long-term goals may

change over time, life statements often stay constant throughout one’s lifetime. A person’s life

purpose statement is very personal, representing their higher beliefs and value systems.

My life purpose statement came to fruition…

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My life statement is broad and has many implications involved. The three commitments outline

general ideas and outlooks on life, but they each impact the way I live out my day to day life. In

addition, each commitment was based on particular Bible verses, and these are the verses I

regularly look to for guidance when I find myself straying away from my original commitments.

The chart below outlines the key Bible verses influencing each commitment and what the

implications are for each one.

Commitment Key Verses Implications

I will glorify God in all that I

do.

“Sing to the Lord, all the

earth; Proclaim good tiding of

His salvation from day to

day.” (1 Chron. 16:23)

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

but to Your name give glory

because of Your loving

kindness, because of Your

truth.” (Ps. 115:1)

Attributing all personal

successes to God

Praising Him for everything

I will strive for an intimate

relationship with God become

closer to Him in everything

that I do.

“Whatever your hand finds to

do, do it with all your might.”

(Ecc. 9:10)

“My eyes stay open through

the watches of the night, that I

may meditate on your

promises.” (Ps. 119:148)

Spending regular time in the

Word and in prayer

Involving myself in a church

community

I will live out the Great

Commission, actively seeking

to share Jesus with others.

“Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit, teaching

them to observe all that I have

commanded you.” (Matth.

28:16-20)

Actively teaching those

around me about Jesus

Regularly reading the Word

and applying it to everyday

life

Actively finding

discipleship/mentoring

opportunities with colleagues

and friends

As seen in the diagram above, there are many implications to each of the three broad life

commitments.

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Career and Life Purpose

My career plans and current job have a huge impact on fulfilling my life purpose

Career and Commitment 1: I will glorify God in all that I do.

Career and Commitment 2: I will strive for an intimate relationship with God become closer to

Him in everything that I do.

Career and Commitment 3: I will live out the Great Commission, actively seeking to share Jesus

with others.

Conclusion

The most important aspect of aligning career with life purpose is to make sure life purpose is

grounded and that career works within it. In other words, one’s life purpose should not change to

align with a current career or job position. As the registrar at a Christian school, I have the

opportunity to disciple students every day and live out my life purpose. However, I must always

remind myself that God is in control and that serving as a missionary does not automatically

mean that my life purpose is complete.

Faith and Life Purpose

Defining Faith

By a Christian worldview, the definition of faith is best seen directly from the Bible. Hebrews

11:1 defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 2

Corinthians 5:7 explains that we walk by faith and not by sight. Based on these two definitions, it

is evident that faith is having so much trust and certainty in something that it leads someone with

more direction than even their own eyesight is able to direct them. By this definition, faith also

goes far beyond material objects and even other people. It is clear that there is a spiritual realm

that is tapped into when we have faith, and by the Christian worldview, faith is in Jesus Christ as

savior.

Integration of faith in life

Faith is not something that should be integrated into life. Rather, life should be completely

grounded by faith.

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Balancing faith, time, and money

Faith and Life Purpose

Conclusion

Life purpose is grounded in faith, and faith flows through all aspects of work, time, money, and

overall life purpose.

Conclusion

Life purpose is one’s individual response to the questions: Why am I here? What is the purpose

of life? How do I maximize my time here on earth? There are an infinite number of ways to

answer these questions, but a Christian perspective refocuses the questions to What is God’s

purpose for me? How can I fulfill His role for me in life? Based on this, I created my personal

with the following life commitments:

1. I will glorify God in all that I do.

2. I will strive for an intimate relationship with God become closer to Him in everything

that I do.

3. I will live out the Great Commission, actively seeking to share Jesus with others.

Although this life purpose is not possible for anyone to accomplish except Jesus, it is what I

strive for every day. God knows the plans He has for me (Jer. 29:11) and commands me to walk

in faith and not by sight. By striving towards my life purpose in my personal and professional

lives, I am getting one step closer to fulfilling His mission for me on earth.

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References

Grudem, Wayne A. Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness

of Business. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2003. Print.

Kaiser, Shannon. “3 Unexpected Ways to Find Your Life Purpose.” The Huffington Post.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Apr. 2014. Web. 5 Sept. 2015.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannon-kaiser/3-unexpected-ways-to

find_b_5176511.html>.

Keller, Timothy J., and Katherine Leary Alsdorf. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work

to God’s Work. New York: Dutton, 2012. Print.

Rae, Scott B., and Kenman Wong. Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business

Ethics. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. Print.

Rose, Gloria. “5 Steps for Writing a Life Purpose Statement.” Beliefnet. 2013. Web. 21 Sept.

2015.<http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Articles/5-Steps-for-Writing-a-Life-

Purpose-Statem ent.aspx>.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version : The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway

Bibles, 2008. Print.

Thera, Sri Dhammananda Maha. “What Buddhists Believe – What Is the Purpose of Life?” What

Buddhists Believe – What Is the Purpose of Life? 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

<http://www.viet.net/anson/ebud/whatbudbeliev/133.htm>.

Warren, Richard. The Purpose-driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Grand Rapids, Mich.:

Zondervan, 2002. Print.