Are You Good Enough?

Many Christians today have the feeling that their work is not enough in the whole scheme of things. That’s not uncommon. There are times when we feel like we don’t pray enough, don’t read the bible enough, don’t worship enough, don’t go to church enough, don’t give enough, don’t minister enough, aren’t good enough. I’ve thought about it a lot myself and it appears to be at least two things that cause us to feel that way. One is perhaps because we’re not as devoted as we should be, that is, we aren’t putting aside the time or energy to make sure we are not involved in sins of commission. Those might be general foolishness, arguing with others about things that don’t really matter, drinking too much, being mean or rude to people. You get the drift. The other are sins of omission. You could characterize these as simply failing to draw near to God or not being attentive to the Holy Spirit.

As you read this letter, you probably know instinctively if you fall into one or both of these categories. However, it’s my guess you are not in either. Maybe you need to tighten up your relationship with the Lord. But maybe not. You may feel right with God and man but still have this nagging feeling of not performing to the best of your ability. If that’s the case, I’m right there with you. Esa doesn’t seem to have this problem. I’ve never known anyone who experiences as much joy in her everyday life as she does. It’s amazing and I count myself truly blessed at the deepest level that I’m married to the happiest woman in the world. She has a way of catching herself when she sins and then immediately repents, asks forgiveness, and returns to her irrepressible optimism. But that’s exceptional.

There’s a good chance that our uneasiness before the Lord is a matter of perception. It’s hard not to compare ourselves with others, especially when we are so electronically connected to the whole planet so much so that we know the names of infinitely more people than we could have known a century ago before the internet or television or in the days before radio, film, or modern photography. Folks who are consistent in their service on the street, in the marketplace or down by the riverside are the bedrock of church credibility. Lydia insisted Paul and his company stay in her home after they were jailed for starting a riot. She risked persecution herself, started a house church and had outsize influence in her area around Philippi. She was the first recorded European convert to Christ with her name appearing twice in the book of Acts. And she was probably never even aware of it!

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their love of rank and titles because they coveted public recognition. He told them not to call themselves Rabbi or Teacher “for you have one teacher, the Christ, and you are all brothers.” (Matt. 23:8-10) Peter referred to Paul as “our beloved brother Paul.” (2 Peter 3:15) There are people who are gifted in important church roles but they can’t do all the work. Each of us is gifted in some way to minister wherever we are in whatever sphere of influence we find ourselves.

God has given gifted individuals to the church to perfect it by imparting those same gifts as well as knowledge and wisdom and helping develop each person’s gifting so the church can fill all in all. We are all ministers. “The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor….which our more presentable parts do not require….” (1 Cor. 12:22-24) God’s will is done on earth when we walk in love and unity before a suspicious world that is desperate to experience genuine kingdom demonstrations of humility, kindness, and sacrifice that manifest in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit

The church in Ephesus was strong for only a few years and vanished within a hundred years after Paul had put so much work into it. In fact, Jesus later rebuked that church saying it needed to repent of having lost its first love and return to the works it did in the beginning. (Rev. 2) What is that work? Jesus told his disciples, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29) It starts with faith in Jesus and ends in his new commandment, “love one another. As I have loved you, so also do you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34) We represent Christ the best we know how. All we have to do is walk straight and love everybody and know that we fit right where we live.

The next time you feel like God can’t use you because of something you did wrong or poorly, or of some character weakness, or from just plain hard life circumstances, please consider…..

Noah got drunk and cursed his grandson.

Abraham gave his wife away to another man, twice, and still got blessed (maybe for Sarah’s sake).

Isaac did the same thing once with his wife and still got blessed (maybe for Rebekah’s sake).

Jacob was manipulative, a cheat and a liar.

Leah was nearsighted and homely.

Moses was a murderer and had a speech impediment.

Gideon was fearful and doubted God about major decisions.

Samson was a narcissist and a womanizer.

Rahab was a whore and yet was written up in the New Testament as a role model of faith.

David stole another man’s wife, at least twice we know of, and was also an assassin.

Elijah ran over a hundred miles from a woman, hid in a cave and got so depressed he was suicidal.

Isaiah walked the streets naked for three years because God told him to.