Learning To Focus on My Purpose and Not My Problems

In review of Philippians 1:22-25 it says, “If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and your joy in the faith.”

Bottom Line:

While living, do worthwhile work. For the sake of others, it’s important that you help them grow and experience the joy of their faith.

What this means to me:

While I’m here on earth, I can do fruitful work for Christ. When God does call me, I’ll be happy and ready to go. However He has work for me to do in the meantime. For the sake of others, I confident that God will want me to help others grow and have joy in their faith. If I can stay focused on my purpose and not my problems, then I’ll be happier when life throws it’s little curves. The Bible tells me that Paul was an old man when he was in prison in Rome. He was a long way from home. He was awaiting execution. Everything has been taken from him; his friends, his freedom, his ministry, even his privacy, with a guard chained to him 24 hours a day. It wasn’t exactly a happy time for Paul. But there was one thing they could not take away from Paul: his purpose. Paul made the choice to stay focused on his purpose, even when he had lost everything else. What was his purpose? Serving God by serving others. Paul says in Philippians 1:22-25, “If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and your joy in the faith” (TEV). I cannot control what other people do to me. I cannot control what other people do around me. But I can control how I respond. Regarding my purpose in life, from what I can tell, God wants me to be a mentor to others helping them with perspective in growing and to have joy in their faith. I just need to make sure I don’t let any distractions or influences that life throws me from focusing on my ultimate purpose.