But Why Do You Need To Find Your Why? 

This article was written by Jim Miley and published by Crossroads Professional Coaching

Simon Sinek’s best-selling book, Start With Why, made it fashionable and even cliché to Find Your Why, not coincidentally the title of his follow-up book.  You’ve probably read the books and pondered your own “why” numerous times over.  Both are good books and made the best-seller lists for a reason. 

Start With a Biblical “Why”

I’ve been reading along with our current sermon series in Acts and this week’s lesson insisted that I recognize it for a business blog.  Specifically in Acts 4 after Peter and John have just healed the lame beggar at the temple gate.  The Sadducees were annoyed by both the attention Peter had drawn and even more by what Peter and John were teaching to the witnesses of the healing act. 

“And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ‘By what power of by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by him this man is standing before you well.” 
– Acts 4: 7-10

The Sadducees and Elders had the authority and vested interest in conducting a formal inquisition of Peter and John’s motives; arguably, an inquisition of Peter and John’s “why.” As the religious leaders of the time, the miraculous healing and associated teaching from Peter and John raised so many questions.

Why were you able to heal?
Why do you say it is by the power of Jesus?
Why do you believe Jesus holds such power? 
Why are two un-educated, un-trained commoners able to command such a following?

The Common “Why” in Business

If called to explain why you do what you do in business, what do you say?

For most of my career, my “why” was primarily to make money so I could support my livelihood and pay the bills and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.  At the time it’s what I felt I had to do and frankly I’m glad I did.  As I grew in age which hopefully included wisdom and discernment, doing everything for worldly reasons lost much of its’ luster. 

I’ve been in the workforce for over 40 years and counting.  Along the way I’ve added personal obligations for a wife, three children, five grandchildren, too many pets to count, numerous homes to house them all, a bunch of cars to get around, food, education, clothing, sports, lessons, medical bills, birthdays, proms, homecomings, vacations and the weddings!  Just writing the short list of obligations was enough to remind me of the stress I once felt.  Honestly, the mention of Disney World still makes me a little uptight. 

I haven’t yet mentioned work responsibilities.  Managing large teams of people and factories in a publicly traded company can make Disney fun again.  Whatever your vocation, taking inventory of your obligations over a full career will reveal a heavy load.

The “Common Why” of working to support your livelihood and pay your bills is woefully inadequate to provide the sense of purpose and meaning that we are created to fulfill.  Why is our world so plagued by anxiety, depression, hyper-tension and a litany of other mental disorders?  You don’t have to look too far to know “why.”  We were created for more than that.

Why You Need To Find Your Why

But God…. thanks be to God that Jesus spoke to me by the Holy Spirit early in this 40 year and counting run.  Like most people, I’m sure I would have struggled to manage all of my obligations without the guiding of the Holy Spirit. 

We need to look for our Why in the right place.  You have been carefully and beautifully created to live your life in accordance with God’s plan.  If we are looking for our Why amongst common worldly values, we will never truly find it. 

You need to find your why because there is only one Why and everything else is a fake; a counterfeit substitute for why you are to do what you do. 

Peter and John did not have a strategy they had mapped out for healing a lame beggar, then exploiting the miracle to preach to the Sadducees.  Peter and John were moved by the Holy Spirit to do what they did.  Living in accordance with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John were able to perform miracles and command a following that left the rulers of the day stumped.  Two common men were empowered to speak with authority to the upper class and lead many to know Christ. 

For the Christian, starting with why means starting with who. 

“So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened…”
– Acts 4: 18-21

This is not to say that the only worthwhile vocation or business is preaching the Gospel nor is it to say to ignore practical community needs.  Jesus started as a carpenter and Paul a tent maker.  God has ordained that we need home builders, engineers, physicians, accountants, and plumbers. 

But before you settle on “why” you set out to do what you do, be sure you are settled on who.  Reflect and pray on how you might best glorify God in all that you do, including your work. 

We shouldn’t invest the precious time we have in developing our worldly plans before we have consulted the Holy Spirit whom Jesus gave us to be our counselor and advisor. 

As believers, we need to find our why because Christ and the Holy Spirit will be the only solid foundation for our lives, our business and our why.