Bible Verses About Purpose

Scripture answers the question of purpose with a Person: “all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). You were made by Christ, for Christ.

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What the Bible says

Apart from God, the Preacher found life empty: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Yet he ended with the answer: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). God says of His people, “I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). We find our purpose when we find Him.

Jesus summed up what God asks of us: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39). The prophet said the same: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). Purpose is not hidden; it is love toward God and love toward others.

We cannot fulfil this purpose in our own strength, so God begins with grace. He “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9). And “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

That purpose reaches into the smallest things: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul could say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), and he longed only to “finish my course with joy” (Acts 20:24). The same God “worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

14 verses, King James Version

  1. 2 Timothy 1:9

    Called by His own purpose and grace

    9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

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  2. Philippians 1:21

    To live is Christ, and to die is gain

    21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

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  3. Romans 8:28

    The called according to His purpose

    28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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  4. Revelation 4:11

    All things were created for His pleasure

    11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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  5. Ephesians 2:10

    Created for good works

    10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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  6. Matthew 22:37–39

    Love God, love others

    37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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  7. Ecclesiastes 12:13

    The sum of it all

    13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

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  8. Micah 6:8

    Justice, mercy, and humility

    8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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  9. 1 Corinthians 10:31

    All for God’s glory

    31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

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  10. Colossians 1:16

    Made by Him and for Him

    16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

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  11. Isaiah 43:7

    Created for His glory

    7Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

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  12. Romans 12:1

    Your life as an offering

    1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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  13. Matthew 5:14–16

    Shine for His glory

    14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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  14. Acts 20:24

    Finish the race Jesus gave you

    24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.