Bible Text: Philippians 3:14 | Speaker: Darlene Sala | Series: Encouraging Words | It’s exciting to think how many people in the world are now thinking about their purpose for being on Planet Earth since reading Rick Warren’s book The Purpose-Driven Life. The book has already set an all-time U.S. record for sales of a hardcover non-fiction book, and it is being read in probably every country of the world.

Of course, because of the success of the book you may be tired of even hearing the phrase “purpose-driven.” But I’d like to ask one question on the subject and that this: Are you pursuing success or significance?

Many of us think that in order to be significant, we have to accomplish something great that makes us famous, so we give up. Actually, many famous people have never accomplished significance, and conversely, some very significant people are unknown outside the walls of their own home.

Your goal in life should not be to pursue what the world says is valuable but to strive to be what God says is valuable. Endeavor to take hold not of someone else’s reason for being, but of God’s purpose for you. Your job is to “press toward the goal” (Phil. 3:14) of God’s purpose for you and to leave the rest to Him.

Don’t let anyone discourage you from pursuing God’s purpose. In her book Dear God, It’s Me Again! Gail Ramsey reminds us of the Charlie Brown cartoon where Charlie Brown holds out his hands to Lucy and says, “Look at these hands! These hands may someday build big bridges! These hands might hit home runs! These hands could one day write important books, or heal sick people… or drive a rocket ship to Mars!” Looking at Charlie Brown’s hands, Lucy retorted, “They’ve got jelly on ‘em.”i

Lucy didn’t see what he saw. She saw only the jelly. Like others who look at you, many will see just the jelly. But don’t let that destroy the dream that God has put in your heart.

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i Gail Ramsey, Dear God, It’s Me Again! (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2004), 79.