Role, Purpose or Function?
What is our purpose? What is our role? What is our function? Is this simply three ways to ask the same question? Is our purpose the same as our role which is the same as our function? Is it related to how the words are used in a particular context? Let’s see.
When we speak of a role our minds will often interpret this as in the role an actor plays. The part, or role, he or she plays is not their real life or their real job or their real family. They are given a part to play and they say woods given to them to say. People who play the role of a smart person may or may not be as smart as they appear. An actor or actress play the part, let’s say, of a doctor may perform that role extremely Well. But, I for one, will not call upon them when I need surgery! 
Purpose has become an overly used word in our day. It seems everyone from Rick Warren to Dr. Phil uses this word! Of course a legitimate use of it is fine. But any word or thought that is overused loses its significance. What our most important purpose on earth do is to glorify God.
But, I want to think about function. How we function is part of doing what God has called us to do. Each of us functions in many different capacities. For instance, each of us functions as a producer. That is, we function as a worker. Some of us function as a parent. Everyone has a parent, but not all of us will be parents. Another function some of us will take on is that of a partner. Not as a partner in a company, but functioning as a partner in marriage. Every husband and wife have certain functions that are more related them them than to the other. In the coming weeks we will be looking into these functions in relationship of the biblical family.
Though I will use these three words somewhat interchangeably, I want to try to focus on the thought of function. I don’t want us to just be “playing a role.” I don’t want us to just know what our purpose is to be. Rather, I want us to function in way God has called us to function. If husbands and wives, moms, dad, and children would do this, Christian homes would better reflect Jesus Christ.
So, how’s your function quotient. In mathematics the term function is used of inputs and outputs. A home will only put out what is being put into it. Let’s commit to functioning well.
