Fear of living for nothing.
As I peruse social media and online news feeds, I am repeatedly amazed by the very successful individuals in our world: athletes, singers, politicians, actors, great doctors and scientists and lawyers.
I also find myself doing a quick subconscious comparison to them. And in that moment it’s hard not to feel exhausted by a lack of accomplishment. It’s easy, in a world where there are so many bright shining stars, to assume that your presence on this planet has very little meaning. Is this true? Am I living for nothing? Will this world feel the positive impact of my presence and of yours? If we never make it to a certain level of media recognition, are we living for nothing?
One of our Bible readings for this weekend says that we all have purpose and meaning, because we are created for a purpose.
We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. // Ephesians 2:10
What exactly is that purpose? Our sermon text gives this critical insight:
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. // 1 Peter 4:11
Our purpose in living—the end goal of our life—is to speak and to serve by using what it is that God has given us and created in us. That can be a nebulous thought initially, but it is grand in its ability to free us from fear and release us to speak and act with conviction, with empathy, and with the greatest pursuit of all: love!
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. // 1 Peter 4:8
What exactly does that look like? Allow me to tell you of an individual who made a significant contribution with her words and let love create a rare form of service, even in a very hostile situation. To top it off, she probably didn’t even realize the effects of her actions and the brilliant way that God weaved her painful existence into relieving the pain of another human in need. Who is this person?
This little girl was stolen away from her home and planted in the cruel arms of an enemy to serve in a foreign country. This little girl’s name was never mentioned, but what she accomplished sent a tidal wave through the life of one very prominent military general. Her life was not a mistake, and her contribution provided an eternal difference for this one man and possibly many others.
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” // 2 Kings 5:2-3
The little girl must have felt the deep wounds of Naaman’s military action. His attacks on her nation brought the death or discord of her family. She could have lived in spite of this cruel master. She could have contained the secret of the prophet’s healing ability, but she didn’t. She could have let her master continue to wither and decay under the loathsome weight of leprosy. Instead she showed sacrificial, giving love for an enemy. How could she do this? Where would she get the emotional strength?
She had found the freedom that comes from knowing that her God, the God of Israel, has a sacrificial heart of selfless, giving love. She was serving with the strength that only God can give; and she was so rich in his love that her words and actions were not logical - but they were life giving.
It would have been easy for her to lose her sense of purpose after being dragged away from her home and her family. It would have been easy to keep her attitude bound and her ambitions small. But the shackles that once dragged her away could not extend to crippling her true existence. She lived her life reflecting the attitude of our Great Redeemer, Jehovah, who had set her free for eternity. She may have been a servant girl but she lived as the Messiah’s chosen spokesperson.
What about you? Are you living your life, daily trudging from task to task, unsure if any of this exhaustion and giving makes any difference? Do you see others with successful resumes and wonder if your hidden record could really matter? The God of the Universe, Jesus Christ, has words to speak through you and strength to help you serve so that your days do not feel hopeless and without purpose.
We all matter. From youngest to oldest, we matter because God has applied the value of his Son’s life to our life. Endowed with that sacrificial love, we can live free to give and serve and love. Let our lives be a reflection of the great love God has for us. To Jesus Christ be the glory.
God bless each of you as you pursue his love and experience the amazing place we have in his family.
Pastor Al