My Personal Purpose

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
-1 Timothy 4:12-16

I would consider these verses my “life verses,” though I have yet to memorize them perfectly. I have alway felt called to teach in some capacity, but not in the traditional classroom sense. There are many things that lead me to believe that no matter what I do, I’ll always be “teaching” on way or another.

There have been times, especially since I became a mother, when I wondered how I was going to fulfill this role. I was thinking along the lines of church ministries or a career. Something like that. Since then, I have completely dropped those ideas…at least for now. They aren’t even on a back burner. They are in the cupboards ready to be pulled out when God is good and ready. Since I had my firstborn three-and-a-half years ago, it has gradually come to my attention that my gift of teaching was already in use.

I always “knew” that an individual’s ministry started at home, but this never hit home until I got caught up in the daily grind of spit-up, diapers, laundry, dinner, housework, nursing, weaning, burping, comforting, playing…on and on. You know how it is. Though there was nothing I would trade for my life, I was feeling like I was useless to God, that there had to be some sort of “ministry” I could commit to without it interfering with my priorities as a wife and mother. I knew that I was supposed to put my family first.

After talking about this to many women who are farther along in their journey than I am, it finally sunk in. My calling, my purpose, my gift of teaching is to be a wife and mother. Period.

Colossians 3:23 & 24 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Silly me always subconsciously thought that this applied only to the obvious ministries. These older women I talked to made it clear that I was to change diapers as if I were changing the diapers of the Lord Jesus himself. What?! All of those daily, mundane, boring tasks bring glory to God? Since when?

Well, since that time, I have asked God to fill me with the Holy Spirit, and enable me to fill & empty my dishwasher as if he himself were going to eat off my plates. To deal fairly and mercifully with my little ones as if they were the Lord’s children. To teach my little ones about the love, justice, grace, sacrifice, and holiness of God. How could I ask for better students? To respect my husband as if he were the Lord. To present myself, my home, and my family as a living sacrifice to the Lord.

What joy this brought me! I went from feeling guilty that I was not more involved at church, to feeling elated that the Lord had graciously entrusted me with assignment of raising children! He showed me that no matter who you are, where you are, if you love him, you are serving him and bringing glory to him. Whether you are a single mom working 3 jobs plus raising your kids or a wealthy mom who can afford a nanny — if you are following Jesus, and walking with him, then you are glorifying him.

If you are content with what you have, where you have it, when you have it, then you are fulfilling your purpose. If you are praising the Lord and thanking him for the dirty dishes that mean you have food, the dirty laundry because you have clothes, and the broken AC because you have a home, then you are right in line with his will for your life.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10) This verse took on a whole new meaning after that. I have not been entrusted with “very little.” I have three children. I have been entrusted with much! How much more could God give me? Seriously. The lives of these little ones are in my hands. I answer to God for them.

In short, I have a ministry just as important as anyone else’s, be they prophet, priest or king. I wake up with this purpose everyday: to glorify my Lord & Abba Jesus Christ in everything I do. Granted, I don’t always do it — who does? Still, that doesn’t change the fact that God himself is orchestrating my life, and will reward me for being faithful with what I have been given. I am not responsible for anything other than that. Doors will open when he wants them to, and if I’m faithful in what I have now, I’ll have the good sense to see them. :o)

Discussion: Do you have a personal purpose? What is it?

Tiffany can be found at her personal blog: Adventures of a Faeryland Mom