Pursue Purpose, Provision Follows

If you pursue purpose, provision will follow.

This was the main idea that I got from Pastor Steve Murrell yesterday, as he talked about the Importance of Purpose, which is the 2nd part in a series entitled Overflow.

I used to struggle with my own purpose. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I worked and changed jobs without spending a lot of time for my overall career. I was just concerned with getting a higher-paying job.

I also struggled with money for most of my life and because I struggled, I held on to it whenever I had it. I am not one you would think of as generous – “kuripot” was a more apt term for me.

I thought purpose and generosity were two different things and disconnected from each other. Pastor Steve showed me the connection through 2 verses in 2 Corinthians.

Verse 8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

And verse 11 says, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

The first verse talks about being empowered and equipped all the time with the grace to do every good deed. Whatever specific purpose God set out for me, I’ll be able to do it well because I have everything I need! What an encouraging thought.

Notice how the word “all” is repeated 4 times. That means all – not sometimes, not often but all the time.

I have now discovered my purpose and God will make sure that I have everything I need to fulfill that purpose.

And as I pursue my purpose, provision will follow, which leads to the 2nd verse.

Pastor Steve highlights the words “made rich” as opposed to pursuing riches. We are made rich as we pursue our purpose. It is a consequence of living a life a purpose.

And we are made rich not just in finances but “in every way” – in our family, our friends, our relationships, our health, everything. Some rich people just have a lot of money but have broken relationships – where’s the fun in that?

And there is a purpose for us being made rich “so that” we may be generous on every occasion.

I believe generosity is the ultimate purpose of provision. We are meant to be generous not for our own glory but to give thanksgiving to God and that others through our generosity may also give thanks to God. It all goes back to him.

Pastor shared encouraging stories of generosity that led them to stay here and continue their mission work. Had it not been for those generous acts, they probably would have left. You can listen to the stories in the podcast.

That is the purpose of provision. We get an overflow of provision so that we may be a channel and not a container of blessings. We were meant to bless others as we are blessed.

Have a blessed week!