Give & Live on Purpose // Deuteronomy 16:17

The great Pablo Picasso once said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” That quote resonates with me as I think about ministry from the point of view of pointing people to Jesus. This isn’t just for clergy or vocational Christians, but everyone! Today’s verse helps us think about this in terms of the gifts God gives us and expects us to use to help point others to God. Contextually, our verse from Deuteronomy speaks to giving financial and physical gifts during the time of the major festivals in their Jewish religious culture. God’s giftedness isn’t just about the things we can bring, though; it also must focus us on the way we live. What talents and abilities do you possess? What life experiences have shaped your personality? What passions and burdens direct your attention? Those are other examples of gifts from God we are called to give back to the Lord by serving others. Do this in the church, in your daily living, everywhere and in all things. God gives and expect us to live on purpose. To put it simply, we must come to know why we are here on this earth, why God chose us for this time in history, and how we can find the intersection of our place in the world and the purpose God designed. Let’s close today with The Message’s rendering of Romans 12:1 which I think states it so well, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.“