Do you really think God needs you or I to do anything in order to accomplish what he wills? We’re overestimating our value by 100% if we do. God uses means to accomplish his will, yes. However, he decides the means, not us. He chooses his servants, both great and small, to accomplish the tasks he wants them to do. We’re going by the wrong economy if we measure kingdom impact by worldly numbers.
“Man I wish I could do something really great for God! You know… like a mission trip! Or write a book everyone likes, or be a well known pastor or something…”
“Yeah man, that’d be awesome. I’m sure we could really do something for God then rather than this regular old job.”
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Have you had similar thoughts? I have. I’ve thought that and heard others express similar things. The thinking assumes that making an impact for the Kingdom of God relies on platform, prominence, and position. We assume that one must have a platform from which we can proclaim the word of God and tell others of his glory. Prominence, it is reasoned, will help us be efficient at reaching the most amount of people with the gospel. Our position must be one of some significance such as pastor, author, or christian musician as a good way of combining platform and prominence.
There are elements of truth to that. Billy Graham did reach a ton of people with the gospel. Lecrae Moore touches a ton of lives with his prominence as a musician. John Piper has a lot of reach not only through his preaching but through the many books he has written. They have each reached millions with the gospel and their impact is undeniable. However, is that what is necessary to impact the world for Christ?
No. We romanticize things we deem great and shrug our shoulders at everyday holiness. This is a vestige of works based righteousness that flits through our minds. The assumption is that God will be really pleased if we do something massive (on a human scale) for him.
Really?
Do you really think God needs you or I to do anything in order to accomplish what he wills? We’re overestimating our value by 100% if we do. God uses means to accomplish his will, yes. However, he decides the means, not us. He chooses his servants, both great and small, to accomplish the tasks he wants them to do. We’re going by the wrong economy if we measure kingdom impact by worldly numbers.
God used one pagan prostitute, Rahab, to deliver the spies and thus Jericho. She was in the family line of Jesus. She didn’t write a book or make an album. God used the ordinary faithfulness of Christians to enable Paul’s ministry by supporting and encouraging him. Read the end of his letters and his gratitude toward people you otherwise hear nothing about. There are many more examples.
God did not call us to impact the world. He called us to faith and repentance. We were impacted by the gospel shared by someone. Whether the person used was small or great in our eyes, the power was not in them but in the gospel. No man saved you or me. Jesus Christ did. Thank God for his servants, yes, but remember they are fellow servants in the household of God.