Becoming Not Doing

Dallas Willard once said, "the most important thing in your life is not what you do; it's who you become. That's what you will take into eternity." If this is true, why on earth am I so obsessed with what I do?! Not only do I care about the ordinary things of life, what I will eat or what I will wear, which Jesus clearly said not to do, but I am concerned about what I do on a grand scale. 

This idea of purpose is EVERYWHERE! Not only is it prevalent in the church world, but in society at large, which means lots of people are thinking about it and trying to pursue it. Yet instead of feeling fulfilled I feel distracted and unsettled unsure if what I am doing is making a difference. I try harder. I do more. I think this instead of that, but is it helping me do what I was made to do?

Then it hit me, I have been asking the wrong question. The question I (or rather we) should be asking is, "Who am I becoming?" Every decision, every thought, every relationship is shaping who we are becoming. 

BECOMING -VS- DOING

Doing feels good. It comes with checklists and accolades, promotions and popularity. It gets noticed and gets us noticed. Becoming, on the other hand, is a slow and tedious process of refinement and molding. Becoming looks more like going to war than riding in the victory parade. Doing is hard work, but it gets rewarded because it can be quantified and qualified. It's done on the outside, while becoming is done on the inside in the secret place of the soul. Doing can be undone, but becoming is eternal. 

I want to make a difference. There is no question about it, purpose matters to me and it should because God has invited us into His story of redemption. Through a relationship with Jesus Christ, He exchanged my brokenness for new life. No longer is life all about me and how good I look living it. In theology, this would be called justification, and the process of becoming (which is a lifelong partnership with the Holy Spirit) is called sanctification.

Thinking in terms of the Christian walk, DOING is all about religion, but BECOMING is all about relationship. I hope this takes the pressure off of discovering your purpose because it isn't something you find one day and then start living. Purpose can be found every day as you are in the process of becoming.

Below are some questions to help you dig a little deeper into this topic:

• Are you more focused on DOING or BECOMING as you go about your day? Why?
• List a few things you are DOING in this season that are shaping who you are BECOMING.
• When you think of purpose what comes to mind?
• Where does making a difference in the lives of others fit into your picture (vision) of purpose?
• Is there anything about purpose that frustrates you or you disagree with?
• Describe a person you feel is living out their purpose.
• What challenges did they have to overcome to get where they are?
• What steps have you already taken to pursue your passion?
• Describe a time you were truly satisfied with a role or function you served in? What sets it apart? How could it be connected to purpose?
• Would you describe your purpose or passions as being more sacred or secular?
• Can God use secular things for a sacred purpose? How?
• What steps could you take in the next week to either discover or progress your purpose?
• Who can you ask to mentor or come alongside you?

Heart & Soul, 

Ruthie