Why You Can Absolutely Do Great, Important Work as a Christian
A Proven Reality, Not Just a Nice Slogan
God’s Design
A guest looking out over a farmer’s garden said, “What a beautiful creation God has made. Look at the color and life in those plants.” The farmer said, “Yeah, but you should have seen what it looked like when only God was working on it.”
As a Christ-follower, that short interaction makes me a little uneasy because the farmer isn’t giving God the credit He deserves regarding the garden he had. We know that nothing grows without the processes that God has set in place — nothing.
That farmer could give it his best effort, but even with a lot of skill and experience, unless God provides the soil, rain, sun, and the ability for a seed to turn into a plant, let alone giving the farmer the mind and body to do the work, there will never be a garden.
But it’s also true that God does a great deal of His work through people, and if people reject His mandate and His calling, then either the work does not get done right then or God has to do it through someone else. Beautiful vegetable gardens do not just grow on their own; they need the right care and cultivation from human beings.
Taking it another step further, no building has ever just evolved over time. Buildings do not just organically grow out of the ground (maybe someday for all you sci-fi fans. Wouldn’t it be great to plant a house seed and have it grow into your desired floorplan?) If there is going to be a building, someone has to put together a plan, gather resources, and do the work.
God gives the ability to do these things, but He does not directly do them. Sure, this is a “duh” idea, but because Christians are rightly taught truths, like the fact that we cannot save ourselves from sin (only God can do that), that we need a Savior, and “unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1), it is fairly easy for sincere believers to not give this principle enough weight.
Out of a fear of disrespecting God or getting into a “works of the flesh” mindset, we put more on God than He said He would do and do not take to heart the responsibilities and privileges He has given us. Yes, it is God’s work, and yes, He should rightfully get all the glory.
However, being driven by holy love, God wants us to know the joy and fulfillment of being living parts of His magnificent mission. He is literally, eventually, going to fill all things with His life and presence (Ephesians 4:11) and already in this time, we get to experience a measure of His life and share it with others. But this can only happen if we take action, because God does much of His work through us.
This is God’s Choice
A perfect God can obviously do everything better than us. It is not that He needs us to accomplish His holy purposes — it is that He has chosen to do so. This perfect God has chosen, out of His pure, wise, and loving nature, to share with us measures of His divine nature. He gives us the magnificent privilege of being “co-laborers with Him” (1 Cor. 3) in His work.
Scripture describes the church as Christ’s body, with each individual playing an important part. Jesus is the head and the Spirit is the life that flows through each and every member. But like the ideas and thoughts our brain comes up with, Jesus, the head of the church, works out His ideas and plans to a great extent through His spiritual body.
Among other things, that means that you and every other Christ follower have the privilege of doing what God has ordained for us to do.
Please let this sink in: God has given YOU the privilege of playing an important role in the greatest cause that will ever be.
God’s purposes encompass every area of life both in this life and through eternity. The actions you take now that are in line with His heart and word last FOREVER (1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 John 2:17). Not only has God already planned out the great work you are created to do; He has also already put in your spiritual account all the talent and resources you will need to do those works. It just takes willingness on your part to fully follow Jesus. There are no exceptions!
Let’s Get This Straight
I hope this inspires you to realize your life is important. God loves you with all His heart whether you live out those plans or not, but He is surely cheering you on and inviting you to get off the bench and into the game. He never condemns those who are in Christ, and He will never get mad at you when you take steps into new areas of uncertainty while endeavoring to follow His lead.
God knows we will mess up. He knows we will use the wrong words, make wrong decisions, and exhibit lousy attitudes as we go. But, more than anyone, He knows these are necessary for progress and growth.
No one gets great at anything just by reading about it, hearing about it or watching it. It must be done. Actions have to be taken in order to learn and develop.
Guess who set up this process? Let me give you a hint: it wasn’t the devil. Growth and development are progressive. God doesn’t plant fully grown trees; He made seeds. God doesn’t make you fully like Jesus the second you are converted; it is a process. That means messes, mistakes, wrong ideas, dumb plans, and words we wish we could take back. But it is how God set up growth and progress to take place.
So, can we please get over the unbiblical fear that God will punish us for trying? Can we accept the fact that growth and progress needs practice and practice means making mistakes? Can we stop beating ourselves up for the unsuccessful ideas we have pursued and get on with it?
The Right Kind of Failure Pleases God
ALL successful entrepreneurial type leaders know that failing is part of the process. Even for Christians, we learn as we go, there is simply no way around this. I have had ideas for groups that did not pan out. I have invested prayer and hard work into projects that bombed. And so has everyone else who is committed to making a difference with their life.
What do you think pleases God more: someone who lives a hesitant, tentative, “safe” life, never taking a risk because they fear failing? Or, someone who steps out in faith, makes a mistake, but then learns from it and gets moving again?
You know the answer.
Which one will you be?
Since I’m asking you, I need to direct this back at myself as well:
What kind of Christian am I?
I determine that one day at a time.
But how I respond is based on understanding that this Amazing, Perfect God has chosen to work with me and through me in the greatest cause of all time.
Please, please, please step into what God has called you to do. There are people who need you to overcome your fear and insecurity and lack to be the instrument of God to get His love, wisdom, healing, or resources to them.
If you want more resources and support in clarifying and living your God-given purposes head over to www.MarkFurlongCoaching.com
