You Have a Telos

Your life has an ultimate aim and purpose.

I have spent a good chunk of my adult life encouraging people, especially young men, to figure out what kind of man they want to be and to pursue that vision for the rest of their life. I’ve talked about it in church ministry, on podcasts, and in conversation. Sometimes I’m urging men to do it and other times I’m gently encouraging men to do it.

I created my first personal vision statement at 23. I copied it from 1 Samuel 16, the description about King David. In my heart of hearts I wanted to be like King David. As life went on and expanded, as my responsibilities changed, the vision expanded to meet the new responsibilities. But one thing I never really settled in my mind or heart was the end purpose or Telos.

Why did I want to be a certain kind of man?

I have said from stage, microphone in hand, “when men do not become what God has designed men to be, the world falters.” This is true. When men do not become men of virtue, godly men, the world around them falters. Depending on their lev…