The thought of ‘WHY’ and what I was meant to do in this world constantly disturbed me as a young child. It pierced the very core of my soul dividing asunder the true meaning of my existence.
Even as a young child, I constantly wondered what I was doing in this world and I would meditate on topics too complex for a child’s brain. I constantly asked questions like, “Who is God? Where is He? Why the prickly plants? Why form me from the ground and not water? Why birds? Do roaches have meaning?”
I think maybe this was a leading. A leading to learn and study the real meaning of purpose and teach it to another generation. Truth be told, I have constantly avoided this topic but it has always bombarded my brain, however subtly.
I have tried to distract myself with my career, passions and hobbies but I still found myself asking why!
I have been on and off on so many things. For example, I would start learning how to play the piano. I go to some lengths with it but I would immediately quit because I saw not the end, I didn’t see its ‘why.’ I would start a digital agency, thrive and soar but would quit after years because I couldn’t picture myself in an office chair giving commands.
I have done this with several other things, ventures, groups, passions etc. but my energy would deplete along the way. And this is why I started learning the concept of starting with WHY.
I first read the book Start With Why by Simon Sinek and realized that I was only doing things out of excitement. I did things because I was multi-talented, because they were challenging or because they gave me cheap dopamine.
Ask most people why they do what they do and they will tell you things like - because I have to feed my family, because I have to take my kids to school, because I have to survive, because this thing has money, because my parents advised me to, because my friends do it too among many other reasons.
Most people are doing things because they simply ‘have to’. A few, and very few for that matter do things because they have found their why. Even with their different faith beliefs, many don’t really know their why.
I believed in God because because He simply did things for me. I only knew Him for the things He has done. While it is not a bad thing, simply knowing God by good things He has done is detrimental.
My belief is that you cannot believe God using tangible things alone because God has a way of challenging all tangibles because everything must be tested with fire.
Mere Belief
I think belief is more than what is seen, heard or perceived. And once it transcends the five senses, it becomes a knowing. Take a look at this scripture
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
- Habbakuk 3:17-18 NIV
You cannot reach the levels above with mere belief. Your belief must transcend into a knowing. You have to enter the realms of knowing. For example, a tree doesn’t believe it is a tree, a tree KNOWS it is a tree.
How then do you transcend mere belief? Do you believe you are this or that or do you know you are this or that? I hear many people say, I believe I am destined for greatness but I have heard very few say, “I know I am destined for greatness."
Consider a remote control, does it believe it is a remote control or does it know it is a remote control? Does it believe that it can control the humongous TV a hundred times its size or does it know so?
You can never find out your WHY before you find out WHO you are. And this is why I dug through Dr. Myles Munroe DVDs and books on purpose and the kingdom and he summarizes the quest for purpose in 5 questions:
Who am I? - The question of Identity.
Where am I from? - The question of Source.
Why am I here? - The question of Purpose.
What can I do? - The question of Potential.
Where am I going? - The question of Destiny.
These questions are sequential and you cannot tackle one question without tackling the preceding one. This article is about purpose and so we must first tackle the questions of Identity & Source.
A product gets its identity and purpose from the manufacturer. A remote control doesn’t get its identity from the hands holding it. Before the manufacturer developed the remote, he first had to envision it then design it.
After manufacturing it, he had to put in a logo to represent his brand - his image and likeness. In the same way, you were made with an original intent, you were then perfectly designed for that intent and then you were formed to carry out the intent to which you were made for. Then a logo was put on you, to identify you with the brand owner, His image and likeness.
Purpose is simply the original intent of an entity. Simply put, it is the reason to why something exists.
There is a reason why you exist, why you love some things, why you dislike some things and why you are partial on some things. There is a reason why you have that character, and why you think the way you do.
Everything else aside humanity seems to know their purpose. They are in touch with who they are and what they are here to do. You will never see a fish walking, nor will you ever find an elephant arguing with a wild dog.
Nature and the wild know who they are, what they are here to do and maybe where they are going. They know which battles to fight and which not to fight.
I keep wondering, if everything in nature seems to live its life to the fullest, why doesn’t man? Has man complicated life itself?
The Four Levels of Purpose
There are four levels of purpose according to Myron Golden.
1. Spiritual Purpose
The first level of purpose is our spiritual purpose. Man’s first and foremost purpose is to connect with his Creator. We are made to first commune, serve and have a relationship with our manufacturer, our creator.
2. Special Purpose
Our special purpose is to use our passions, gifts and talents to serve others and create meaningful income. It is in serving others that we serve God. The intent is to first serve others not looking to merely profit from our unique gifts and talents. Our why is in service and money comes in as a by-product, a reward to the diligence we have put.
3. Social Purpose
There is a reason you are not alone in this world. There is a reason everything has its kind. Our social purpose is to interact with others because we are supposed to serve humanity. Everything we want is in the hands of another human. Regardless of how introverted we are, we have to interact with other humans.
It is through that interaction that we get to connect with destiny helpers, mentors, spiritual guides, clients, and sponsors. It is through our social purpose that we connect to our kind.
4. Sacrificial Purpose
Our sacrificial purpose is about laying down our lives for others especially those that cannot give us anything in return. This can be through offering our special purpose to persons that cannot afford us.
This can also be using proceeds of our special purpose to help those in need. When you perform your sacrificial purpose, you shouldn’t be expecting anything in return. Don’t do anything with the intent that it must come back.
Sadly, most people help with the resolve that God must repay them back. This is not sacrificial purpose. Inasmuch the law says whoever gives receives, one should not give solely because they will receive. It is sad that many remind God about what they have done for others whenever they get bitter that their life is not working.
Every time you go to God with the notion of, ‘I did this for you so bless me…’ you are simply telling Him to reward you according to your own righteousness not Christ’s. First, learn to lay down your life for another soul.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- 1 John 3:16 NKJV
I have come to realize that the biggest tragedy of life is not the lack of money but the lack of purpose.
Let me help you discover your purpose!