Pastor John D Jakes

Last time I shared a bit about seeking our purpose.  Today I want to talk more about “buckshot” living.  If you missed it, refer to my last post.  However, to simplify things, buckshot living is the living we do and we don’t really know why we are doing it.  It doesn’t really have a purpose and we wouldn’t call it fun.  Now, if this purposeless living was every once in a while or if it just affected the non-essential areas of life it wouldn’t be a big deal.  I have observed that many people live full-time in the buckshot zone.

Many people parent in the buckshot zone.  They don’t have a plan to lead their children closer to God or to become better people.  They are just surviving.  Many people go to work in the buckshot zone.  They don’t have a plan to witness.  They don’t have a plan to shine for Christ through their industry and trustworthiness.  They are just working.  Many people are married in the buckshot zone.  They don’t have a desire to help their spouse grow in godliness.  They don’t have a way their marriage is going lead other couples to Christ.  They are just existing together.  They love each other.  Hopefully, they have fun together.  But, their life together has no greater purpose than just living.

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

This aimless living hurts us. Aimless living breeds discouragement. Aimless living undermines our personal purpose. Paul declared that his approach was to live with aim. He wasn’t going to be a boxer that just beat the air. He lived with his purpose always in mind. As you think about the apostle Paul, do you see a man discouraged or just floating along? Isn’t he a man who knows what his life is about and how he is going to spend it? How did Paul get that way? He got that way on purpose. He lived with clear purpose. That purpose gave his life eternal meaning.

If your life seems too aimless, will you fill the activities of your life with that eternal purpose? Your life may be full of activity, but is it activity for a reason? Isn’t it past time to bring purpose to the activities of your life? Will you settle for mere activity or will you dedicate your activity to the purposes of God?

Worship, evangelism, Christian growth.  Which of these are the purpose for your life’s activities?  No, we aren’t saying that having the occasional fun for fellowship’s sake is bad.  Nor are we saying that every little activity of life must fit neatly within these three purposes.  But – if there is something we do all the time that involves other people and it doesn’t regularly have one of those purposes, then aren’t we selling ourselves short?  Aren’t we answering the question of why so much of our life seems pointless?  Give it some thought.  Isn’t your life more than just doing things?  Doesn’t life have meaning?  And don’t the individual events of life gain greater meaning when we imbue them with purpose?

Something to think about,

Pastor John