FULFILLING YOUR LIFE’S MISSION
Read 2 Timothy 4:5.
One verse with many imperatives – be sober (or “keep your head”); endure; work; fulfill. All of them carry a sense of forging ahead with an unceasing commitment to finish well. The specifics are directed to Timothy as a leader of the early church and as a key individual to carry the torch of faith to the next generation. He would face the hardships of a leader, the frustrating resistant that evangelists must feel all the time, and the pressures to meet the expectations of a spiritual hero in Paul. This was no easy assignment. But really, don’t we all have our own tough assignments? If Paul were here today, he might say to each one of us: keep your cool in all situations because the work’s going to get hot; pull up your bootstraps; I want you to work hard, very hard to finish the work God has for you.
Have you ever worked on a long and difficult project and saw it to completion? I’ve never built a house like Craig has, but I can imagine the determination and tenacity required to finish a project of such magnitude. One does not need to accomplish that kind of project to appreciate the necessity of hard work. Small projects require a certain amount determination as well. But here’s the thing: Paul is saying our entire life is to take on that characteristic. That same attitude and determination is to be applied to our Christian life. Our life is not merely a one time project, but a lifetime project from beginning to end. We are to be fulfilling God’s kingdom work – that’s what our life mission is to be all about.
To consider: What is your mission in life? How determined would you say you are at fulfilling that mission?
Consider doing the following exercise:
1) List at least five things you are currently working on in your life (this would include things in your work, marriage, family, home, ministry, etc.).
2) Next to each item, write down what purpose it is ultimately serving (e.g. work provides the needed income to provide for the family; trying to demonstrate love more in my marriage is helping to improve our marriage relationship.)
3) Next to each item write down how determined you are at accomplishing those goals (e.g. 10% effort, 75% effort, and so on).
4) Now ask if these are areas that God would have you spend your limited amount of time and if they are in line with God’s mission for you. If your answer is, yes, then great! How much effort are you putting in those areas? If your answer is, no, then consider adjusting your goals to align with God’s mission for you.
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Questions for Home Groups
1) Where in your life do you put in the kind of effort Paul describes in v. 5?
2) Where are you putting your efforts? Consider completing the exercise described above.