This isn’t the first time that a lesson that I’ve presented was a result of my wife’s feedback from a women’s bible study. As Sandra was telling me this past Monday when she returned home, each of the women was to take their turn in sharing what they believed was God’s purpose for their lives. Forgive me if I misunderstood the way this was phrased, for I’m often vulnerable to such misunderstandings. But it was in this light that I began to consider what was God’s purpose was for my life. I asked Sandra if anybody went for the rote Scriptural answer. She asked what I meant, and I said, "Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Literally what the text says is that to fear God and keep commandments is the "whole" of man. Or this is what man is all about, service to God. The whole book of Ecclesiastes is about Solomon’s quest for the purpose for his life. He said that the aforementioned statement was the conclusion of the matter. After determining that life was unfair, he concluded that God would make things right after this life. Therefore, man’s purpose was to maintain right relationship to God by keeping His commandments.

The questions before us are; Is Solomon oversimplifying things when he assigns one purpose to all men? Is what he states a full explanation of that purpose? Has God had different purposes for men at different times. Does God have different purposes for different people? I want to explain in the beginning that this lesson as I’ve studied it has turned out different from what I initially conceived. Also that much of my conclusion is based in semantics, or how we express things in words. However, souls have been lost by wrongly expressing things in words. For instance, if I teach from Mark 16: 16 that those who are unbelieving are lost, that is true. But full understanding cannot be had unless I express that only those that believe and are baptized are saved. If not properly expressed, souls are lost.

I believe that God has a single purpose for all men. He has had the same purpose for all men since the beginning of time, and that purpose will extend unchanged until the end of time.

Romans 8
²⁸   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This is a wonderful promise to those of us that are called according to God’s purpose. Notice that it doesn’t state that God calls us all according to different purposes. There is singularity of purpose and calling, but duality of man, in that some will love God and heed that calling according to his purpose. Others will reject God, and thus His calling and His purpose. Still the calling is unto the same purpose for all men. For God not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God’s purpose is eternal. Ephesians 3:10-11 records:

Ephesians 3
¹⁰   To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
¹¹   According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

The term eternal here is clear. That is a term that transcends time. Reconciling man is not a plan that God construed after man was unsuccessful in the garden of Eden. Nor did He simply think this up when Israel was unable to be faithful under the Old Law. His plan has always been the reconciliation of man through the sacrifice of His Son. That reconciliation has been made manifest in these last days in the church. In 2 Timothy 1: 8-11 Paul writes:

2 Timothy 1
⁸   Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
⁹   Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
¹⁰   But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
¹¹   Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Here Paul again makes clear that we are called according to God’s singular purpose which is given through Christ "before the world began." That eternal purpose was made manifest by the appearing of our Savior and Lord. Looking back we have benefit of seeing that purpose clearly, whereas Solomon could only draw conclusion of the matter.

Here’s where semantics, or how we express things in words comes into play. We are called "according to His purpose and grace" and not "according to our works." When we are asked what God’s purpose for our lives is, the first thing we begin to do is list our works. It is because of God’s purpose for each of us and every other man and woman that we have works to do. Paul said that he was called according to God’s purpose whereunto he was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher. Because he was called according to God’s purpose, he was given work to do. I believe that this is why it is phrased "according to his purpose." Once we have responded to his call according to his purpose, God has accomplished his purpose for each of us. We then become in accord or agreement with that purpose which Jesus states simply as to seek and save the lost. The works are not, strictly speaking, his purpose for our lives, but the means of accomplishing his purpose for others. When we are called according to His purpose we become "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2: 10) Once you are called according to God’s purpose, there is work for you to do. We don’t all have the same work but share our purpose in common. This is what Paul illustrates in:

1 Corinthians 3
⁶   I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
⁷   So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
⁸   Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
⁹   For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

He that plants and he that waters have differing works, but are one in purpose. We are laborers together with God unto the one purpose. My fear and my reason for teaching this is that if we begin to look upon our works as being God’s purpose for our lives, then we might lose sight of the overall eternal purpose for all lives. If that happens, we make ourselves vulnerable to leave some works undone. After all, I may not look upon some works as being my purpose, if works themselves are my purpose. If saving souls is the purpose, then I look upon every work as being unto that purpose. Then if I see a work that is neglected, I make effort to fill that void.

So bearing in mind that there is only one purpose. Does that leave room for everyone to have a work to do. Absolutely! In 1 Cor 12:18 Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 12
¹⁸   But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

There is a reason that God has placed you in the body of Christ wherever you are. There is a job to do, whoever you are. Sometimes we don’t see how our works fit into God’s purpose for all men. But believe me, they do. I’ve often preached here that it is God who gives increase, and it is God who grants repentance unto salvation. So while teaching a Sunday school class may not seem evangelical, it is preparing for increase that God will send. Why would God send a congregation families with children if there are not any well equipped Sunday school teachers. Sprucing up the building on a work day, may not seem evangelical. But attractive buildings are attractive to the worldly. And it is the worldly that need to be saved after all. Door knocking may not seem successful. But the first century church preached the Gospel from door to door. In door knocking we are fulfilling the New Testament pattern of evangelism. It is in door knocking itself that we have our success. Remember giving increase is God’s work. So "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." ( 1 Cor 10:31 ) Whatever we do, if done to the glory of God, is working for the common purpose.

OK. So why doesn’t it seem that everyone in the church has a work to do. The sad fact is that some do not want to work. In 2 Timothy 2:19-22 Paul writes:

2 Timothy 2
¹⁹   Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
²⁰   But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
²¹   If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
²²   Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

In a large house it stands to reason that not all vessels will be "meet for the master's use". There are bound to be those that are not willing enough to put away worldliness to truly get involved in the work of the church. Also, I suppose that there are those that just don’t know which role they might fill in working for God’s purpose. Believe me there is a role to play, just ask someone. Or if you want to make yourself a vessel meet for the master’s use, simply depart from iniquity. Put away worldliness.

This starts with forgiveness of those sins that are counted against us.

Acts 2
³⁸   Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If you’ve never had your sins washed away in baptism, you are still in your sins. If you have been baptized for forgiveness of sins then 1 John 1:7 tells us:

1 John 1
⁷   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If you have need of baptism, please don’t put it off. We know not when God calls for our souls, and then it will be too late. If you’ve not been walking in the light. Confess your sin and repent, God is faithful to forgive. Confession need only be as public as the sin. But please don’t put off making things right while there is still time. Make yourself a vessel of honor, and walk according to His purpose.