The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Thirty Nine
Balancing Your Life
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Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone.
Your life is a pentathlon of five purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus. These two statements sum up what this book is all about--God's five purposes for your life
1. Love God with all your heart: You were planned for God's pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through worship.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself: You were shaped for a serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through ministry.
3. Go and make disciples: You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God's message through
evangelism.
4. baptize them into...: You were formed for God's family, so your purpose is to identify with His church through fellowship.
5. Teach them to do all things.....: You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship.
A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian.
Keeping these five purposes in balance is not easy. We all tend to over emphasize the purposes we feel most passionate about and neglect the others. You can keep your life balanced and on track by joining a small group for accountability, by regularly evaluating your spiritual health, by recording your progress in a personal journal, and by passing on what you learn to others. These are four important activities for purpose-driven living. If you are serious about staying on track, you will need to develop these habits.
Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group. The best way to internalize the principles in this book is to discuss them with others in a small group setting. We learn best in community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversation.
Give yourself a regular spiritual checkup. The best way to balance the five purposes in your life is to evaluate yourself periodically. For your spiritual health, you need to regularly check the five vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission.
Write down your progress in a journal. The best way to reinforce your progress in fulfilling God's purposes for your life is to keep a spiritual journal. This is not a diary of events, but a record of the life lessons you don't want to forget. Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. Write about the stages of your spiritual journey in living a purpose-driven life.
Pass on what you know to others. If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned. Those who pass along insights get more from God. Now that you understand the purpose of life, it is your responsibility to carry the message to others. God is calling you to be His messenger.
Share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbors, and those you work with. The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. Knowledge increases responsibility. But passing along the purpose of life is more than an obligation; it's one of life's greatest privileges.
Not only does God want us to live out His purposes, He also wants us to help others do the same. God wants us to introduce people to Christ, bring them into His fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place of service, and then send them out to reach others, too.
Your life is a pentathlon of five purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus. These two statements sum up what this book is all about--God's five purposes for your life
1. Love God with all your heart: You were planned for God's pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through worship.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself: You were shaped for a serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through ministry.
3. Go and make disciples: You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God's message through
evangelism.
4. baptize them into...: You were formed for God's family, so your purpose is to identify with His church through fellowship.
5. Teach them to do all things.....: You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship.
A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian.
Keeping these five purposes in balance is not easy. We all tend to over emphasize the purposes we feel most passionate about and neglect the others. You can keep your life balanced and on track by joining a small group for accountability, by regularly evaluating your spiritual health, by recording your progress in a personal journal, and by passing on what you learn to others. These are four important activities for purpose-driven living. If you are serious about staying on track, you will need to develop these habits.
Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group. The best way to internalize the principles in this book is to discuss them with others in a small group setting. We learn best in community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversation.
Give yourself a regular spiritual checkup. The best way to balance the five purposes in your life is to evaluate yourself periodically. For your spiritual health, you need to regularly check the five vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission.
Write down your progress in a journal. The best way to reinforce your progress in fulfilling God's purposes for your life is to keep a spiritual journal. This is not a diary of events, but a record of the life lessons you don't want to forget. Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. Write about the stages of your spiritual journey in living a purpose-driven life.
Pass on what you know to others. If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned. Those who pass along insights get more from God. Now that you understand the purpose of life, it is your responsibility to carry the message to others. God is calling you to be His messenger.
Share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbors, and those you work with. The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. Knowledge increases responsibility. But passing along the purpose of life is more than an obligation; it's one of life's greatest privileges.
Not only does God want us to live out His purposes, He also wants us to help others do the same. God wants us to introduce people to Christ, bring them into His fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place of service, and then send them out to reach others, too.