THE DANGER OF PURPOSE WITHOUT A CLEAR SENSE OF VISION.

THE TERMS VISION AND PURPOSE ARE OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEM. VISION IS THE OVERALL GOAL OR DESIRED OUTCOME OF A PROJECT OR ORGANIZATION. IT IS THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT THE ORGANIZATION WANTS TO ACHIEVE IN THE LONG TERM. IT IS THE REASON WHY THE ORGANIZATION EXISTS.

PURPOSE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR DOING SOMETHING. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION OR PROJECT, THE ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT WILL HELP IT ACHIEVE ITS VISION. IT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS ACTIVITIES.

THEREFORE, VISION CAN BE DEFINED AS THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF AN VISIONARY INITIATIVE WHILE PURPOSE IS THE ACTIONABLE STEPS TAKEN TO REACH THAT GOAL. THE PURPOSE IS THE ACTION THAT WILL BRING THE VISION TO LIFE. WITHOUT A VISION, THE PURPOSE IS MEANINGLESS.

LIFE IS ABOUT SERVICE. GOD CREATED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MAN, TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF MINISTRY UNTO HIM. THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE, THE GREATER OUR LIVES BECOME EVEN MORE RELEVANT, SUCCESSFUL, AND FULFILLING.

EVERYTHING WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING SERVES A PURPOSE. THE QUESTION, HOWEVER, IS, WHO’S PURPOSE IS IT SERVING? YOU MIGHT SERVE A PURPOSE THAT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD, OR A PURPOSE THAT BRINGS GLORY TO THE SELF-LIFE, INDIRECTLY SERVING THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD WHO IS THE DEVIL.

GOD CREATED EVERYTHING TO SERVE A DEFINITE PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE ORDER OF CREATION REVOLVES AROUND A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, OR ELSE, THE ORBITAL ORDER OF LIFE WOULD BE DISORDERLY AND CHAOTIC, TO SAY THE LEAST.

PURPOSE SPEAKS INTO THE PROPER WAY AND ORDER OF HOW PEOPLE AND THINGS SHOULD FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND PRODUCTIVELY. AS WE HAVE SAID, PURPOSE IS NOT VISION. VISION, HOWEVER, INFORMS AND DRIVES PURPOSE TOWARDS EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONALITY.