“God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners” (Metaxes, p. 43). A life’s work in 20 words. William Wilberforce is a historical figure that I have casually studied on a number of occasions. One of the things that most amazes me is his incredible devotion to his life’s mission. He has been called the greatest social reformer of the Western World. He is certainly in a category with very few.
This titan of social change, like most in his day, did not really believe in the God of the Bible early in his adult life. He had some casual sense of a divine nature, but it was an irrelevant being at best. As a relatively young man however, he came face to face with the true nature of God through a traveling companion. Upon his return home Wilberforce spent several years wrestling with the idea of what it meant to worship a present and holy God…could he continue in politics?
Through some counsel and much prayer, Wilberforce came to write those words above… “God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.” This inexorable agent of social change understood his life’s work and the necessity of God’s work. .
I’m am beginning to understand that one of the reason many people will never be great leaders is because they honestly have no sense of purpose of mission in their own life. Mission gives you direction. It helps you make decisions by giving you something to evaluate your alternatives by. If you want to be a great leader, you need to figure out why YOU are here.
Here is a challenge for you. In 30 words…what is your MISSION?
John-David M. Culbertson 