Hustle or Purpose?

Hustle or Purpose?

The Hidden Cost of Living Only for Money

In Nigeria, almost everyone uses the word hustle, both Christians and non-Christians. It has become so normalized that many people believe that, as a man, you simply have to hustle. Their concern is understandable. After all, how does one feed himself or provide for a family without working hard?

However, I believe that the intention behind many of our decisions matters greatly.

Many people enter the university and choose a course of study, not because it aligns with their purpose, passion, or calling, but because they believe it gives them a better chance to "hustle." Some choose certain careers because they pay more or carry greater social status.

In the process, many ignore the deeper desires within them, the dreams, visions, talents, and gifts placed in their hearts. They sacrifice these things in pursuit of the security that comes from making money.

Our communities provide clear examples of this mindset. Someone discovers a profitable business and starts it. Within a few months, many others are doing exactly the same thing. People often fail to think creatively or discover what makes them unique. Instead, they follow trends. They see what is currently making money and join the crowd.

Anyone who makes money the ultimate goal of life risks losing sight of purpose.

Every person was created with a unique package. This package contains talents, wisdom, passion, gifts, and the enthusiasm needed to fulfill a specific assignment in life. It is complete and possesses the capacity to express itself if given the opportunity.

This package carries your security, peace, fulfillment, and sense of service. It is your light. It is the authentic version of you that supplies something the world is missing. Without your contribution, something remains absent.

Jesus said:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NKJV)

When this package begins to unfold, you become a light to others. You become a star to your generation because you are expressing what God placed within you.

To unwrap this package, you may need to sacrifice your obsession with chasing money. You may need to invest your time, energy, and attention in discovering and developing what is already inside you.

This package is persistent. It calls to you. It longs for your attention.

You may be struggling financially, yet it remains alive within you. Your friends may be following popular trends, yet it continues to shine. You may be tired, but when you engage with it, you feel fulfilled.

This package does not thrive on striving. There may be little or no financial reward at first, but you love it anyway. It is the highest version of yourself that you can become.

Sadly, many people never discover this version of themselves. Some begin the journey and quit halfway. Others stop before reaching the end of the tunnel and never experience the light waiting there.

Consider this: if you cannot continue doing what you are doing when there is no financial reward, there is a possibility that you have not yet found your true package.

Those who discover their purpose are often willing to serve long before they are rewarded. Whether it pays immediately or not, they find joy in the work itself. The service gives them an inner satisfaction that money alone cannot provide.

They do not serve merely to chase wealth; they serve because they have discovered why they were created.

This is why hustle and purpose often point in opposite directions. Hustle is driven by the pursuit of money; purpose is driven by the pursuit of meaning.

Ironically, when you discover your true self and faithfully develop the gifts within you, you often recover everything you hoped to gain through hustling, and more. You find peace, fulfillment, impact, and significance. You become a light to others and a star to your generation.

The greatest tragedy is not a lack of money. The greatest tragedy is living and dying without ever becoming who you were created to be