LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Colossians 3:17

Next month will mark the 16th year since I retired from parish ministry. It was not because I was too old, or ineffective in doing what I was tasked to do as a Pastor. In fact, I retired much prematurely per United Methodism standards. Very often people are afraid to retire because they do not know what they are going to do when the usual daily activities are no longer required of them. You will often hear the words “what am I going to do? I will go crazy.” To all of you out there pondering how you are going to survive the idleness of retirement, understand that it boils down to one main point, and my advice to you is this: LIVE WITH PURPOSE. Let us take a moment to meditate on this.

The life of the Apostle Paul gives us a wonderful example. After encountering the resurrected Christ on the Road to Damascus, Paul spent the rest of his life proclaiming the good news of the Gospel everywhere he goes. Despite being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned, Paul kept his focus on preaching Christ. He summed it all up in this verse from Philippians 1:21: “For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying – well, that’s better yet!”

To those who do not believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it is natural for them to strive for the things that this world values: money, popularity, power, and prestige. For Paul however, life meant developing eternal values and telling others about Christ, who alone can help us see life from an eternal perspective. Paul’s whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like Him. Once you know your eternal purpose, then you are free to serve – devoting your life to what really counts without fear of dying.
Retirement usually provides more free time, so it’s important to reflect on our priorities and then use the extra time wisely. But that guidance is not only for retirement; our goal should be to live with purpose no matter how old we are or in what stage of life we find ourselves. As followers of Jesus, our purpose should be focused on living for Him. Again Paul sums it up well: “Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor. 5:15)
 
In 2010 when I retired from the pulpit after visiting Haiti following the January 12th earthquake, I had a clear purpose: to go back and be God’s voice, God’s hands, and God’s feet to a battered and hopeless people. And, I felt in my heart that I could not fully satisfy that purpose, and at the same time remain in parish ministry. My life and the life of the people had become one and my only purpose was to let them know that despite their desperate conditions, that God still loves them, and that my very presence with them was a testimony to that love. That is the main purpose of my life, to the glory of God.  
 
Sunday, I was the speaker for the St. Mark’s Men Ministry Day. I preached on the theme: “go and be a witness, go and make a difference.” In John 20: 21-22, 50 days before Pentecost when tongues of fire of the Holy Spirit would fall on the disciples, Jesus told them “As the Father sent me, I am sending you,” then he breathed on them and said “receive the Holy Spirit.” And again, in Matthew 28: 16-20 He gave them the Great Commission charging them to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all I commended you.”
 
Just like Paul we have an eternal purpose: to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, in word and in deeds; an eternal purpose to Go, and make a difference in the world. “We are the salt of the earth called to let people see. We are the light of the world not to be hidden but be seen. We are the hands of Christ reaching out for those in need. We are the face of God for all to see. We are the spirit of hope; we are the voice of peace. So, we ought to let our love shine for all to see.” We ought to go and make a difference in the world.

We live with purpose when we follow the way of Jesus.
 
Let us pray.  Dear God, we praise you and we thank you for all that you are doing in our lives. You call us to live a life with eternal purpose. It is not easy as we deal with our own shortcomings, our own fears and doubts; our own weaknesses and challenges. But we know that with you all things are possible. So, God help us and guide us by the power of your Holy Spirit, inspire us and empower us to keep our focus on living for you – through witness, service, and worship. May we bring glory to your name by living as courageous followers of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen and Amen.

Written Rev. Franck Aguilh