What is the purpose of life? to serve

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16, NIV

The Salt of the Earth

Sodium Chloride, aka Salt, is a stable compound, which is two or more elements connected by a strong chemical bond. In other words, stable compounds do not change in characteristic or type. This is precisely what Jesus was referring to when he said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”[i]. He was referring to the fixed and stable condition of the disciple’s identity[ii]. You see, Jesus knew that salt could not be changed or altered. There is no way for salt to lose its saltiness. So, why did he refer to His disciples in this way? He referenced the state of being (or character transformation) that occurs when one begins to follow Jesus.

Salt is a versatile substance. It enhances the flavor of food and is a vital source of nutrients.  However, it is also used for preserving food, which was essential before the invention of refrigeration. Without it, food would rot almost immediately. Salt had many other functions as well, including serving as a disinfectant and even a form of currency in trade. To the people Jesus spoke to, salt was a vital part of life. When he claimed they were the salt of the earth, Jesus highlighted their usefulness and the benefit they would bring to the world.

The Light of the World

Houses were not constructed like homes today, with many rooms serving distinct functions, such as cooking, dining, and sleeping. During this time, houses typically consisted of a single large room, occasionally featuring an additional room. There was no electricity. So, a single burning oil lamp would provide light for the entire household. This lamp was placed on a stand in the center of the house to provide light for everyone[iii]. When Jesus claimed that His disciples were the light of the world, he was visualizing the influence they would have on others’ lives. The disciple of Jesus receives light in their life from God; they live in that light and embody it[iv]. In turn, they shine that light onto others and provide an example and a reflection of God’s influence in their life. They share with everyone the impact God has had on their lives and the impact God can have in theirs, too. Disciples reflect God’s character and give life to everyone around them.

This is the message Jesus was sharing with His disciples: they are to be salt and light—useful and life-giving. God wants to use you in a way that is uniquely suited to your character. He has a purpose in this life that only you can accomplish. It takes complete submission to Jesus, but He will guide you to being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Here is an outline of how to discover your purpose and live out your unique calling.

Discovering Your Life's Purpose

You

This may come as a shock to some, but life is not all about YOU! The truth is, God made each of us unique, completely original, and He did this for a reason[v]. Our society has taken this truth, blown it out of proportion, and twisted its meaning. We are told that the most essential thing in the world is discovering who we truly are and living for ourselves. Yes, we are unique and individual, but we are not the most essential or valued thing on this earth. You are special, but only in the sense that you are created to fulfill a unique need. People spend their entire lives searching for their life’s purpose, only to find they wasted it all away in that search. The reality is that we were created to serve[vi]. That’s it. Through serving, we recognize that it was our purpose all along.

If you look around, you will see that this is indeed true. Everyone is serving something. For many, they are serving their desire for money, recognition, or power. They work jobs they hate to fuel a lifestyle that serves these desires. However, desire is never fulfilled. This is beautifully depicted in the 80s movie Gremlins. Remember those creepy little guys? Yes, when you feed this creature, it evolves into a hungry, rampaging monster. Desire is the same way; when you feed it, it only grows stronger, hungry for more. For many others, they serve a greater purpose, something beyond themselves. They dedicate their life to this cause and find joy and fulfillment. They sacrifice for their family and others around them. This is because they were created to serve this need, and in turn, they are fulfilled.

First and foremost, the disciple of Jesus directs their focus away from themselves and onto God. They serve God FIRST. He becomes the center of their entire life. Next, God places a unique care, concern, or passion in their lives. For some, this means ending world hunger; for others, it may be to help the sick and the needy. For many, it will be getting married and starting a family. For some, it will be doing business or working in industry to help create a bright and exciting future. Sometimes, there is a misconception that all disciples of Jesus are called to become street preachers and evangelize the world. No, God wants followers of Him in all aspects of life[vii]. He wants Christians to build houses, teach in classrooms, and manage ER rooms. He wants disciples everywhere – in all roles, except, of course, roles or jobs that go against his word. A disciple of Jesus cannot work somewhere that goes against his word (e.g., abortion clinics or the pornography industry). However, for all other aspects of life, Christians are called to serve. We will delve more into calling later, but for now, the focus is on what passion or cause is placed in your heart. If you are unsure of what that is, first ensure you have fully submitted to God. Next, pray and listen to what lurks within yourself. Three aspects of the self will help you refine what this passion is: Personality, Skills, and Spiritual Gifts.

Personality

Personality is the combination of a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. People perceive their environment through their thoughts, filter them through their feelings, and ultimately take actions based on that perception. Over time, these continued actions build up a person’s personality. When people observe these actions, they categorize them with labeled characteristics. Here is an example of how this works.

Regarding personality, there are two key aspects to consider: Nature versus Nurture. Nature refers to the inherited genetic makeup of an individual. It’s the parts of our being passed down from our family, also known as our DNA. Our DNA is the instructions for our bodies to operate and contains a person’s entire genetic code[viii]. Genes are sections of the DNA that control certain functions of the body[ix]. For example, some genes direct the body's secretion of specific hormones, such as dopamine or serotonin, which control a person’s mood. Think of the DNA as

the playbook for a football team. The Genes are the individual plays.

Nurture refers to the environment in which we live and how it shapes who we are. A person is born in a particular time and place. Each person has a unique set of circumstances that shape who they are. These include family structure, culture, nationality, race, and many other factors. Some people have traumatic backgrounds, while others are raised in nurturing and healthy environments. Each of these circumstances affects how a person develops and ultimately shapes their personality.

For decades, researchers have debated whether nature or nurture has a greater impact on individuals. For most of history, it was assumed that nature was the predominant factor, and little attention was given to environmental roles in development. This is why concepts like royal bloodlines or the great man theory were highly esteemed[x]. Recent years have seen a drastic shift in perspective, where nurture now reigns supreme, and even some of the more stable and concrete genetic structures, such as biological sex, are now being questioned. Neither perspective in itself provides enough clarity. Clearly, the environment plays a role in our personality development, but that is built on the foundation of our genetic makeup. Modern research suggests that it is not an either-or situation, where some traits are developed at birth and others are learned through behavior. Instead, the interaction of our genetic makeup and the evolving environment around us shapes who we are[xi]. As we go about our lives, the makeup God gave us adapts to the world around us.  God creates us in a specific way to engage with the world around us. He made you for this very time and place[xii]. He fashioned you to survive in the exact environment you were raised to serve this exact, broken world today. Your genetic structure responds to the world around you, shaping you into the person you are today. Next, let’s look at how skills play a role

Skills

Skills are the abilities and expertise people develop throughout their lives. The better someone performs a particular task or function, the greater their skill in that area. There are two aspects to consider when discussing skills: Talent and Effort. Legendary college football coach Nick Saban aptly illustrates this dynamic in his brief rant to reporters about what makes a player great[xiii]. He recognizes here that your abilities are partly based on the biological makeup that God gave you and largely on the effort you commit. Some people are naturally gifted at performing specific skills; they are well-suited to excel in this area. Others have to work much harder to achieve the same level of performance. Yet, the best of the best are people who pair natural talent with inexhaustible effort. That’s where excellence is achieved.

For instance, naturally, I have an incredibly loud voice—it carries. Boy, did that get me in trouble as a kid. While staying at friends’ houses, it used to drive their parents nuts to hear my voice rumbling through the halls. Now, it comes to my benefit when I speak to large groups. While giving a lecture, those in the back of the classroom are grateful for that voice. On that same note, God never made me to be a basketball player, just didn’t. No matter how hard I work, I will never be that good at basketball. Not only am I vertically challenged, but I also dribble like a toddler. When determining your life purpose and living out your calling, it’s essential to evaluate your skills and strengths. Lean into those strengths and manage your weaknesses. This is precisely what Strength-Based Leadership is founded on[xiv]. It focuses on the areas where you excel, leaning into those areas, and finding support for areas that are not your strength.  Often, people focus on their weaknesses and try to build those up. Instead, identify your strengths and double down on them[xv]. That is what will differentiate you from the rest. Don’t try to be something you are not; instead, be more of who you are!

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are crucial for developing disciples. When you place your trust and hope in Jesus and publicly express that commitment through the spiritual practice of baptism, the holy spirit enters you[xvi]. In doing this, the Holy Spirit guides and advises the believer, bestowing upon them spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities that enable a person to connect with, heal, or communicate with others in ways that are otherwise impossible. To many, this sounds hocus pocus, especially in a day and age that denounces the supernatural altogether. Even many lifelong Christians downplay or outright deny the supernatural aspect of life. There are limitations to this worldview.

In the age of science, truth is determined by what can be measured. However, science can only go so far, and we can only observe and measure within our current abilities. Years of technological advancements have enabled people to measure things that were previously impossible to measure, scientifically. Quantum physics is a prime example of this. New technology and research methods have allowed researchers to recognize that perception can change the physical nature of an object. In other words, the molecular structure of an object changes entirely depending on whether it is being observed[xvii]. This concept is very complex, but molecular particles are in a fixed positions when we observe them.  However, when they are not being observed, they interact in a wave-like manner. This idea has substantial implications toward a person’s ability to change their reality based on their perception – a biblically supported concept that deserves greater attention in an entirely separate discussion.

Anyways, back to spiritual gifts. Throughout several of Paul’s letters to the early churches, he outlines many of the spiritual gifts, which are summarized in the table below[xviii]. We cannot explore all of them here, but this portrays many of the ways the holy spirit equips Christians to do the work of God. You see, the gift of teaching enables a person to teach others about what the bible says and how to live a godly life. Each of us can think back to a time when a teacher, by no means, had the gift of teaching. I attended public school, so it was most for me! Yet, a few connected to me in ways that most ever had. I had an English teacher whom I took his class for three years (I was only supposed to take it twice, but I had to retake a year of English my senior year… as you can tell, I’ve always been a scholar). He was a tall, forward man—funny but borderline. Yet, for a teenage boy who needed a little straight talk, he gave it to me. He connected with me in a way that others ignored, and it changed the trajectory of my life. His ability to connect with his students changed my outlook on school and equipped me for my calling.

2 Corinthians 12	Romans 12
Prophecy	Prophecy
Distinguish between spirits	Teaching
Utterances of wisdom	Exhorting
Utterances of knowledge	Service
Workings of miracles	Leading
Gifts of healing	Giving
Various kinds of tongues	Mercy
Interpretation of tongues
Faith

Calling and need

God has a unique purpose for your life, known as your calling. This is a designated work set aside for only you to fulfill. So far, we have seen how God has uniquely built you, placed you in your environment, developed particular skills, and empowered you with spiritual gifts. All of these will be used to fulfill a particular calling that addresses a specific need. The need is the problem in the world that demands to be addressed. From the beginning of creation, the first man and woman sinned against God and invoked the fall – humans’ separation from God[xix]. Since then, people have been tasked with two things: to procreate (Be fruitful and multiply)[xx] and to create or labor (Bring the world back to Eden)[xxi]. We won’t cover the creation of other humans here; I’m sure you can find plenty of information on that topic on the internet.

Moreover, people are to create; this means that they do something with their lives that helps bring the world back to its proper order. There is no shortage of need in this world – it’s a mess. A single person cannot address every issue. That is why God places a specific care on your heart. For some, this will be to address human trafficking, while for others, it will be the environment. For some, it may mean developing technology that improves lives, and for others, it will be raising happy, healthy, and godly children who will live out their own callings.     

Consider the various concerns or troubles in your life. What issue burns in your soul? What problem keeps you up at night? Think on this. Meditate on this. Pray on this. Hear from God. Gain clarity on what you should do and create a vision plan. This is a clear vision about what you are seeking to do with your life. Think 2-5 sentences. Make it declarative and imaginable. Meaning speak with confidence, yet set your goals so high that they seem almost impossible. George Barna wrote an excellent book on vision that I highly recommend for those who wish to learn more about this topic.[xxii]

As you go forward, reflect on who God has created you to be. Think about the many factors and experiences that make you, you. What is it that is so different from the rest of the world? All of your experiences, past jobs, roles, whatever they may be, have shaped you into who you are today. They all play a part in the role you will serve. It wasn’t until I started the.SALT that all of my past experience in sales, marketing, education, and teaching came together in a unified fashion. At the time, some of these seemed like stepping stones or just jobs. Yet, each has prepared me for this step in my career. God has a plan for you, whether you know it or not. It’s time to get moving on it!

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Stay Salty!

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References and notes

[i] Matthew 5:13a

[ii] Stott, J. (2020). The Message of the Sermon on the Mount. InterVarsity Press.

[iii] ESV Study Bible, 2016

[iv] Matthew 5:17-20

[v] 1 Corinthians 12

[vi] Matthew 20:27-28

[vii] Witherington, B., & Witherington, B. (2011). Work : A Kingdom Perspective on Labor. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

[viii] MedlinePlus. (b). What is DNA? Retrieved 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/basics/dna/

[ix] MedlinePlus. (a). What is a gene? Retrieved 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/basics/gene/

[x] Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership : theory and practice. SAGE Publications, Inc.

[xi] Katch, &., & Victor. (2022, Dec 16). Nature vs. nurture? It’s both. https://michigantoday.umich.edu/. https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2022/12/16/nature-vs-nurture-its-both/

[xii] Acts 17:26

[xiii] Nick Saban (2024). Five Choices in Life, & Saban, N. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DpcSJj8hWg:

[xiv] Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2008). Strengths based leadership : great leaders, teams, and why people follow. Gallup Press.

[xv] Ackermann, F., & Eden, C. (2011). Making strategy: mapping out strategic success. SAGE.

[xvi] Ephesians 1:13

[xvii] Selen, M. (2007, Oct 22). The theory of observing changing the observed. https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/125449

[xviii] Adapted from ESV Study Bible, 2016, p. 2178

[xix] Genesis 3

[xx] Genesis 1:28

[xxi] Genesis 3:17-19. See also, Witherington, B., & Witherington, B. (2011). Work : A Kingdom Perspective on Labor, and Crouch, A. (2009). Culture making: recovering our creative calling.

[xxii] Barna, G. (2018). The power of vision: discover and apply god's plan for your life and ministry. Baker Pub. Group.