A Puritan's Personal Purpose Statement and Yours

One of the things that is relatively new yet widespread is organizations adopting purpose statements. They are everywhere from your fast food restaurant to your multinational cooperation to your local church (oddly enough certain studies have shown churches with purpose statements are often healthy then those without.) It seems like you can not get away from the ever popular purpose statement. I myself having written a couple purpose statements for organizations because that is often the starting point for the rest of a strategic plan.. But why are they such a big deal? Maybe this simple definition I got in my Strategic Planning class will help: Purpose statements explain why an organization exists. For example, this restaurant exists to serve customers and make a profit or this church exist to glorify God, etc. This is why purpose statements are so powerful they are the articulation of something’s reason for being. Knowing this obviously gives one the great advantage of giving something its direction and clarity on what an organization is supposed to do. This is why its no wonder why when an organization decides to organize or structure itself it will go about it by putting its purpose into words and then arrange everything around its defined purpose. This can be a powerful thing.

One of the things I have been wondering is what if people gave themselves’ purpose statements. What it look like? Would it have the same power for people as it does for organizations? As I was reading through A Quest For Godliness by J.I. Packer for my Spiritual Disciplines class I caught a glimpse of what a person’s purpose statement may look like as I read on page 61 some things that Richard Baxter wanted to commit his life to are: " First , to speak the impenitent, uncovered sinners, who are not yet so much as purposing to turn…And with these, I thought, a wakening persuasive was a more necessary means…My next work must be for those that have some purposes to turn, and are about the work, to direct them for a thorough and true conversion, that they miscarry not in the birth. The third must be directions for the younger and weaker sort of Christians, that they maybe established, built up, and persevere. The fourth part, directions for lapsed and backsliding Christians, for their safe recovery. Besides this, there is intended some short persuasions and directions against some special errors of the times against some common killing sins. Ad for directions to doubting, troubled consciences , this is done already. And the last part is intended more especially for families, as such, directing the several relations in their duties." What laudable goals for a person to have! I paraphrased and summarized what he said his mission was, in this way: 1) To reach the uncoverted. 2) To bring nominal Christians to true conversion. 3) To build up the younger and weaker brothers. 4) To help backslidden Christians safely return. 5) Confront and correct errors of the time.6) To direct families in relational duties. I would call this John Baxter’s personal purpose statement. These were the reason he existed and fulfilling his calling for the glory of drove him which led to a time of great revival in England.

Here is my question what is your personal purpose statement. How would you explain your existence? How would actively knowing the reason for your being change your life. I want to challenge you to articulate your own personal purpose statement for life. Then let that challenge you to change the way you live knowing what you are here for. This how my personal purpose statement would read: "John Babri exist to be a servant of Jesus Christ to the glory of God to call those who do know Jesus to come to know him in a personal way and to call those to who claim to know Christ live transformed Christ exalting lives". Imagine now if I live my life according to my purpose statement and calling. Would I be like the great Richard Baxter? I know have my purpose articulated will help me keep in perspective the reason I am here and rightly forces me to do what I am created to do.

What is your personal purpose statement? What is the reason you exist? Is it to make as much money and have as much fun as you can before you die? Or is your purpose something more. Let me help a little as you write your own personal purpose statement. Your purpose is now so you can gain stuff, have as much fun as you want, or to make money. Your purpose is for Christ. If you think your purpose is for something else you can know you are wrong Col 1:16 says this about why you are here :.. all things were created through him and for him..the him being Christ, all including you, Romans 8:28 has this to say about you :29For 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. You are the to be conformed to the image of Jesus. 1 Cor 6:19 says this about you: You are not your own.. This is a good starting point for drafting your purpose statement know you exist for Christ to be conformed to image of Christ and you are not your own and have no rights to yourself but belong to Christ. How does knowing this should then influence you and the way you live? What does this scream that the direction of your life should be based on your purpose. Also, know that if your personal purpose does not have anything to do with Christ or place him as supreme and central its wrong.

How would you articulate the reason for your existence? What is your purpose and how does you change the way you live to fit your reason for living. What is your life’s purpose statement?