It is important for all of us to feel useful; to feel as though we have a purpose. Understanding and accepting the foundations of effectiveness, creates confidence in serving God.
Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:21-22, NIV
I believe we all have this innate desire to feel useful; to feel like we have a purpose. We all want our lives to account for something. Even more, Christians feel this pull. Our example of this is modeled after a servant. Jesus is the perfect example of usefulness to the Kingdom of God. So, if He is who we should look toward, what’s our hang up?
Wrong Side Of Useful
My love language is acts of service. It’s how I show love, and also how I receive love. Unfortunately, when someone more or less tells me they have no need for my services…I feel worthless, useless, undesirable. I become fearful that I may not be doing what God is calling.
When I put my ambition in the opinions and wishes of others, I lose sight of my true purpose: serving God. When I feel inadequate because of other humans, I smack God right in the face. Absolutely, feeling rejection is awful. However, if I am truly discerning the Spirit and obeying His promptings, I should feel confident that I am being useful towards God’s will, paying no mind to the reception of others.
Serving the Kingdom
Don’t get me wrong, I have not mastered that mindset. Actually, on the contrary. The running lesson in my life is to overcome the need for approval from others. I’m slowly accepting the only opinion that truly matters is God’s. Serving Him by serving others is easy for me. However, the part where I care too much about how I’m being perceived, is hard to let go of.
In order to be useful to those around us, we have to know what they require, desire, and need from us. The same is true in our usefulness in serving God. Yes, He can use any and all situations for His glory. But, if the true desire of our hearts is to be effective for the Kingdom, we must work to stay rooted in the elements of spiritual usefulness.
If the true desire of our hearts is to be effective for the Kingdom, we must work to stay rooted in the elements of spiritual usefulness. Click To Tweet
Biblical Foundations
The Bible is the VERY best tool we have. It helps us align our lives with the commandments of God. We can daily compare our actions with the words of God. So, based on the Bible, these are the foundations I have found helpful for knowing I’m on the right track…
Knowing I Am Loved
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8, NIV
Seeking God’s Plans
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105, NIV
Listening For God’s Voice
My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27, TLB
Accepting I Am God’s Creation
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10, ESV
Knowing I Am Not Alone
‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 41:10, MSG
Realizing My Weaknesses
But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV
Obeying God
Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:4-6, ESV
Having Confidence in Him
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2, NIV
Application
Every calling is unique, but the ultimate purpose of all Believers is to serve God. Accepting and learning these foundations, is giving me an abundance of confidence in the mission God has placed on my life. Whenever I doubt, I meditate on the specific principle that needs work. Writing these scriptures down and diving deeper into their meaning, is helping me to focus on my God ordained purpose, not the purposes of the world.
This is a lesson I’m working on too! I can get caught up in “doing good things” for the kingdom of God but not with pure intentions. Success and accolades can cloud the focus. In seeking God’s counsel, He has called me to pull back. To say ‘no’ and reduce the projects. To focus once more on His list of priorities instead of my own. Humility is hard as I’m having to fight the lies associating my usefulness and worth based upon works.
You and I both, Melissa! I wrote this post as a reminder for myself more than anything. I know I will have to continually come back to it. I am human after all. You’re right, humility is a hard character to balance. <3
“Every calling is unique, but the ultimate purpose of all Christians is to serve God.” Yep. Love it.
Thank you, Stevie! That seems to wrap it all up in simple terms! It’s our purpose, it’s our mission, it’s what God asks of us! <3
Very insightful word, Katie. Sometimes, with my ongoing health problems, I begin to believe the lie that God might be finished with me…but…
Our pastor used Eph. 2:9-10 Sunday as a reminder of our unique call from God. He pointed out that our Father prepared our calling or ‘good works’ before we were even conceived, a work that only we can do for His glory! Isn’t that beautiful?
Keep using that amazing gift you have, dear lady. No one can do what you do. ❤️
Dodie! You’re so very sweet! Thank you for such kind words! God is NEVER finished with us. We all, no matter the circumstance or situation, are able to serve the Father! You also keep using your gifts! Your writing always tugs at a piece of my heart, and convicts! Even if you reach no one else (which isn’t true) you are reaching me! <3
Your words remind me of how important it is to take every thought captive and make them obedient to truth in Christ. Beautiful encouragment!
Thank you Liz! That’s my prayer! That we would all understand and know our only mission is to serve God, however that looks! We need to overcome with the truth of His word! <3
Love the graphic of the 8 Foundations for Effective Serving! This post makes me need to ponder:)
Thank you, Julie!!! <3 <3 I was able to create that one! It was so fun to create, but what's better is the power behind it, and I can't take credit for that! Only God can! 🙂 I'm glad you were encouraged!
I have been praying for clarity. I was so sure God put me where he did (my vocation) but things are shifting and I’m a bit confused. I definitely want to hear and do God’s will for me in my work (in everything, but it’s my work that is baffling me at the moment).
Loved this. Knowing who we are and that our value is not dependent on anything else is important in anything that we do.