Do you, as a Christian, feel you have nothing to offer for the Lord’s service? Perhaps you’re feeling somewhat worthless. You look around at others and say, “Wow, why can’t I be a successful Christian like them?” Or maybe you’re thinking, “They have so many talents. I can’t do anything.”

We see others with ministries on television, great websites glorifying God, authors of books, great musical talents, artistic gifts, great speaking abilities, and on we go. Well, allow me to give you the conclusion of this article now, instead of at the end. Did you ever stop to think that it isn’t what you do? It’s what Christ does through you. Now sit back for a minute and think about that ……. When we understand that, we realize that what we actually should do for Christ is to simply be faithful to Him and allow Him to do His work in and through our lives. At that point, we get our eyes off other people, and especially off ourselves, and on Jesus Christ, where they should be.

Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger about this insecurity issue. We have all been guilty at one time or another of getting this whole thing backwards. Listen, there is no power in you and me. All the power rests in God. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NASB)

Let me offer some advice. It has helped me. Maybe it will help you too. Quit looking at what others do, and live your own life. In the Gospel of John we read where Peter wanted to know what Jesus was going to do in John’s life. Here is what Jesus said to him, “…If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22 NASB) That’s it in a nutshell! “You followMe!”

Some of these people you see who you think are successful are piling up stacks of wood, hay and stubble, because they are not following Christ. They are “doing they’re own thing”. Others you see who are gathering gold, silver and precious stones are successful for one reason. Instead of occupying themselves by trying to be like someone else, they are following Christ. They are being obedient to His will.

I’ll break it down even more. If God has called you to rake up the autumn leaves from the church yard, then do the best you can to please Christ. You are successful. If you love children and are great in the nursery at church, then do your best to tend to those children for the Lord. You are successful. If you are outgoing and love to speak to people, then make everyone you come in contact with, enjoy being in your presence. You’re representing Christ. You are successful. Raise up your children as unto the Lord. You are successful. Love your spouse greater than yourself. You are successful. Be the most diligent employee your employer has. You are successful. Has it registered yet?

Live your life as unto the Lord, and you will be no less successful than those who author books, stand behind the pulpit, have a beautiful voice, etc. It isn’twhat you do. The key is what you are doing is your best for Jesus Christ. That is success. There are no important people and not so important people among God’s children. We are all equal. We are all important in His eyes. We can all serve, because the power rests in God, not us.

In Judges chapter seven, we read the account of God using Gideon to go up against the Midianites, Amalekites and sons of the east . Gideon started out with 32,000 warriors, but that was too many for this reason, “The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.” (Judges 7:2 NASB) So God reduced the military force down to 300. Even though the enemy was as numerous as locusts, the 300 man army of Gideon soundly defeated them. And as God said, there was no way Israel could take the bragging rights. Only God could pull it off, and did He ever!

The same is true with you and me. Our strength comes from God. “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights…” (Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV) We can do nothing in our own power, but in Christ we will produce fruit for Him, as the branch produces from the vine. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NLT)

Our success, if you want to call it that by the way, comes by and through Jesus Christ. “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Isaiah 40:29 (NLT)) When we focus our life on His will, He will lift us up. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV)

Notice in the following verses that God loves to take a “nobody” and do great things through them, simply because there is no glory but that which is in God. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31 NIV)

Do any of the following give us an edge in doing great things for Christ?

·        Our background

·        Our circumstances

·        Our education

·        Our environment

·        Our country

·        Our family

·        Our looks

·        Our personality

·        Our talents

·        Our “other”

 

The answer is absolutely, without question, “NO”. None of these things, or anything else we would care to add, gives us a “leg up” with God. I cannot say enough, that our “success” in serving Christ is not about us, except for one, and only one issue; obedience. Follow Him.

There is no doubt in my mind that when we all convene before the Bema seat of Jesus Christ, millions of Christians who were known by practically no one in this life, will be richly rewarded by our Lord for their obedience to Him with gold, silver and precious stones. Just as many, who perhaps were known by thousands or millions while on this earth, will be shamed for their stack of wood, hay and stubble.

You and I say;

“I can’t do this”. God can.

“But I just don’t have the means to get this done.” God does.

“But you just don’t understand, I don’t even know where to start.” God does.

“But I’ve messed up my life so badly no one could put the pieces back together.” God can.

So many of us Christians want God in our lives, but we want to do the driving. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Once we Christians realize that we don’t have to “carry the load,” which we can’t lift anyway, a whole new world of freedom and opportunity opens up.

One final thought, in everything we do, let us do it in obedience and thankfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV) May we stop trying to “keep up with the Joneses,” so to speak, and just live our own life as unto the Lord. Peter needed to stop concerning himself about what Jesus was going to do through John, and take care of Peter. He needed to live his own life as unto the Lord. That is the same message to you and me.

I don’t think Jesus will ask us how much or what we have done for Him, but He will ask us, if we have been faithful with what He has given us.

 

Grant Phillips

Four years ago I wrote a song called “Too Little Too Late” that is shown below. I can think of no sadder words to be spoken, when considering the eternal destination of a person’s soul and the opportunity missed.

All the family and friends stood around to bid adieu
To the corpse in the coffin lying out for all to view
They wept and hugged each other to soothe their broken hearts
In the background was the choir singing all their parts
They read the obituary and told of all he’d done
But now that doesn’t matter he missed out on the Son
> All the kind words and the accolades are empty and vain
The most important thing in life he failed to attain
The preacher gave the sermon and it was hard for him
For he knew too well the outcome and it was oh so grim
At the church and the graveyard all said their last goodbye
All they could do was stand around and hang their head and cry

CHORUS:

Too little too late he knew not the Son of God
Too little too late he’ll soon be covered with the sod
They all prayed for his soul but none showed him the way
No one told him of the Lord and it’s too late to pray

Jesus said in Luke 17:26-29, referring to the Tribulation that people would be as those in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. He basically said that they would be going about their lives as usual, as if nothing were about to happen. Many are living just like that today.

I have noticed in just the last week so many people dying unexpectedly. I assume they thought they would live many years to come, but none of us have any guarantee of our next breath. How horrifying it must be to not know that when we left our house that morning, we would never be returning, but facing judgment from the God we ignored.

We Christians need so desperately to be a witness in word and deed to this lost world we live in. I understand that so many times it is hard to find an opening to introduce the Savior to someone. However, I have found by experience that God honor’s his Word; i.e. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

My point is if we ask Him to send us opportunities to witness, He will do so. I have often missed those opportunities, because I wasn’t spiritually alert. So we need to be alert and ready to see the “opening” that God provides to introduce Jesus to those who are lost. My Mother was the best I have ever seen at witnessing. You could be talking about cornbread, and she would somehow turn it into a conversation about Jesus.

We who already know Jesus as our Savior and Lord are very aware of the urgency to not put off that most important decision in our lives. Those who are in the world cannot see this however, and sadly many head off, quite unexpectedly, into eternity without Him.

Once our body dies, and our soul departs into eternity, there are no second chances. Just read the account of Lazarus and the beggar beginning at Luke 16:20. The most difficult sermon to preach is at the graveside of one who is lost. All you can do is provide God’s plan of salvation to those who are left behind.

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord do not be casual about the most important decision in your life. The Scripture says,

“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV)

Do not put this off until tomorrow. You may not have a tomorrow. Jesus told us about a fool and his possessions, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20)

Is there something in your life that has made you its slave? You can only have freedom in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can forgive sin, and He will. Only Jesus can provide real freedom in your life and peace in your heart. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NKJV) “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27 NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)

Don’t let it be said of you, too little too late.

Grant Phillips