What Defines You? Discovering Your True Purpose
Have you ever wondered what people think of when they hear your name? What defines you in the eyes of others? As fall settles in and we establish new routines, it's the perfect time to ask ourselves a crucial question: What is my what?
Moving the Goalposts
The NFL has come a long way over the years. They've changed numerous rules – protecting quarterbacks, implementing instant replay, and most notably, moving the goalposts from the middle of the end zone (what a terrible idea that was!). But here's what's interesting: they changed the "how" without changing the "what" of the game.
We see this pattern everywhere. Major League Baseball instituted a pitch clock to speed up games. Movie theaters implemented reserved seating with leather recliners. Social media platforms created "stories" that disappear after 24 hours. In each case, the "how" changed, but the "what" remained the same.
This principle applies to our spiritual lives too. So often, we get caught up in the "hows" of Christianity – the rules, the dos and don'ts – that we lose sight of our "what," our true purpose.
Jesus Reveals Our True Purpose
When a religious scholar tried to trap Jesus by asking which commandment was most important, Jesus cut straight to the heart of the matter:
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38).
But Jesus didn't stop there. He continued, "The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).
When we love God with everything we have, it becomes the organizing principle for our lives. Everything else fills in around it. It becomes the big rock, driving our schedule, our relationships, and our motivations. When God becomes the lens through which we make decisions, our identity begins to change into His likeness.
What Defines You?
All of us have something that defines us in others' eyes. Richard Flinski died in 2017 with a collection of 90,000 golf balls – the largest collection ever. Mike Fontaine has been collecting McDonald's memorabilia since 1969, including wrappers, straws, and 99% of all Happy Meal toys ever produced.
We might laugh at these extreme examples, but the question remains: what defines you? As I've said before, your habits reveal your values, your calendar reveals your priorities, and your bank statement reveals your passions.
If someone examined your daily decisions, your calendar, and your spending habits, would they conclude that you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind?
Loving Others Flows from Loving God
Jesus made it clear that loving God and loving others are inseparable. When you love God, it overflows to the people God loves. Your neighbor isn't just the person next door – it's whoever you were hoping I wouldn't say. It's the person you don't want to show love to, extend grace to, or offer mercy instead of justice.
As N.T. Wright beautifully puts it, these commandments aren't "orders to be obeyed in our own strength, but invitations and promises to a new way of life."
Life Change Happens in Community
When you put God first, everything else changes. Your work becomes more meaningful because you're not relying on it for identity. Your relationships improve because you're not counting on people to complete you. Difficult times become more manageable because you know you're never alone.
This doesn't mean life gets easier – but it does get better. There's a significant difference between those two things.
Putting It Into Practice
If you're ready to make loving God and loving others your "what," here are some practical next steps:
Join a group - Find community where you can discuss Sunday's message and receive support to live out what God is speaking to your heart.
Serve others - Whether through our food pantry or other community partners, serving those in need is a tangible way to love your neighbor.
Grow intentionally - Consider opportunities like our upcoming retreat that can jumpstart your spiritual growth.
When we say yes to loving God and loving our neighbors, lives change – including our own. As Jesus commissioned us: "Go tell the world about me. I was dead, but now I live."
What's your "what" going to be?
