--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Christians we are not here for our own…" description: "\"“As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all—we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same.”\" — Oswald Chambers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png" --- # As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at… ![“As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all—we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png) > ““As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all—we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same.”” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We exist to fulfill God's purpose, not our own, and those purposes differ. **In simple terms:** Our purpose is God's, not personal. Key Takeaway Align actions with divine purpose. Themes faith purpose service Mood reflective serious Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - church work - personal decisions - volunteering - career choices Key Concepts theology selflessness Questions to Reflect On - How does your daily work reflect God's purpose? - What personal ambitions might be misaligned? A Different Perspective Human desires may conflict with divine calling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [“Our identity as Christians is a purpose-driven life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/our-identity-as-christians-is-a-purpose-driven-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“The thing about purpose is, it’s not for you. Your purpose is what God does for others through you. It’s easy for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-love/the-thing-about-purpose-is-it-s-not-for-you-your-purpose-is-what-god/) [B. Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-love/) > [I was born by His purpose, and for His purpose. God is good all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-born-by-his-purpose-and-for-his-purpose-god-is-good-all-the-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-church-lies-at-the-very-center-of-the-eternal-purpose-of-god-it/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Christianity offers not merely a consolation but a restoration - not just of the life we had but of the life we always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christianity-offers-not-merely-a-consolation-but-a-restoration-not/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Reason had overthrown faith, and had defeated the purpose of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-s-price/reason-had-overthrown-faith-and-had-defeated-the-purpose-of-god/) Charles S. Price > [I embrace the purpose of God and the doom assigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-embrace-the-purpose-of-god-and-the-doom-assigned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The purpose of God’s revelation is not that we stand over it and observe, but that we be drawn in and enjoy him. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/the-purpose-of-god-s-revelation-is-not-that-we-stand-over-it-and/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [It is not enough to know the Son of God in the Father's nature only, unless we acknowledge Him in what is ours without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/it-is-not-enough-to-know-the-son-of-god-in-the-father-s-nature-only/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [The Christian is joyful, not because he is blind to injustice and suffering, but because he is convinced that these, in the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-christian-is-joyful-not-because-he-is-blind-to-injustice-and/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [“There is no purpose for Christian scholarship outside the purpose of God that He is accomplishing in the church.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-white/there-is-no-purpose-for-christian-scholarship-outside-the-purpose-of/) James R. White > [“The purpose of God's Word is to transform people in every country and every century into the image of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-purpose-of-god-s-word-is-to-transform-people-in-every-country-and/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Grace doesn’t free us to live for us. The purpose of God’s grace is not to make your little kingdom of one work better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/grace-doesn-t-free-us-to-live-for-us-the-purpose-of-god-s-grace-is/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“In the Garden story, good and evil are found on the same tree, not in separate orchards. Good and evil give meaning and definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-the-garden-story-good-and-evil-are-found-on-the-same-tree-not-in/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“The purpose of God is far greater than your own personal fulfillment or your peace of mind, or even your happiness, your family, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moroaswi-tumiso-victor/the-purpose-of-god-is-far-greater-than-your-own-personal-fulfillment/) [Moroaswi Tumiso Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moroaswi-tumiso-victor/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all—we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oswald Chambers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-own-purpose-at-all-we-are-here/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-own-purpose-at-all-we-are-here/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/oswald-chambers-205_christianity_as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-ow_2286374.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all—we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are…” — Oswald Chambers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oswald Chambers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As Christians we are not here...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-own-purpose-at-all-we-are-here/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-christians-we-are-not-here-for-our-own-purpose-at-all-we-are-here/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```