Is it enough to have purpose?
It is obviously essential for success to be purposeful in your actions in order to stay on track and fulfill the vision. But, what if it is not based on Truth and it’s hard to tell what THE Truth really is?
Is it worth rowing along in personal conviction if it is all based on Faith from within and personal interpretation of one route map to be followed in Life if fellow boaters do not acknowledge it and follow you down the same path?
In other words, is having a vision and pursuing it purposefully make Life whole, or is it more important to have the right vision & how do you discover it?
Explain, using examples and references, and relate your comments to the Four Principles for Purposeful Action.
This post was written by Jimy George, who will lead the discussion for the week starting on March 17.
It’s good to have a purpose and to constantly be working towards goals in life. There are way to many people who have no real reason to even get up in the morning and don’t have any desire to find one. That is a big problem in our country because of the welfare and unemployment systems that are in place. People who have oppurtunities to succeed, but do not have the desire are just as eligible for government assistance as those who work hard and have just fallen on hard times and actually need assistance, even if it is just temporarily. It gives these systems that have the best of intentions a bad name.
People should have purposes, goals and dreams to keep them motivated from day to day, but you don’t want to work your whole life to achieve a goal and then realize that you have no time left to enjoy your success. You have to look to the future, but take the time to enjoy the present as well. You have to find a balance between living now and preparing for later.
The body is fullfiled through mature self control and the reinforcement of good over evil it is the denial of lust for self gratification that shows we are flowing with the current in the brook.
The spirit is developed through our strength in faith that there is a supreme power in the universe greater than ourselves. It is our beliefs that lift us above our mortal selves.
The mind structurs our concerns and weights them agains our phisical and phsicological beliefs of self worth. Our state of concousness and perception dictate our actions.
The purpose of life is three-fold:
1) To gain a body and experience a fullness of joy as our eternal spirit takes on a physical form. Will we develop self-mastery over the flesh or let it take control? A successful life is one of self-mastery.
2) To learn to live by faith. In this mortal world we must live by faith constantly. We exercise faith to plant seeds in the ground, nourish them, and trust that they will grow. We work trusting our employer will pay us. Faith is continually required - even by those who do not believe in a Higher Power. A successful life is one that develops enough faith to trust God. The people who do their best and rely on God to make up the rest are those who have found the secret to a joyful life.
3) To prove yourself. What will you do with what you’ve been given? Jesus illustrated this with the parable of the talents. The two servants who had 2 and 5 talents doubled theirs and were considered good stewards. The one who had 1 talent, buried it in fear, and did not improve lost his talent and was banished. What have you done with the light, knowledge and gifts you’ve been given? For those who have been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, have they been valiant in their testimony of Jesus? Those who have never heard of Him or never had a chance to be taught of Him will be measured by what they have done with the light and truth they have been given. Jesus taught, “where much is given, much is required.” He who sins against the greater light receives the greater condemnation. What have you done with what you have been given? Have you sought to obtain more or in fear hidden your talent in the earth?