if even one
photo by Rémi Walle @walre037
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"I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." ~Helen Keller
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Some of us were called for GREAT things for all the world to see.
Some of us were called for the little things to be done with great humility.
Some of us were called to a life with a massive following.
Some of us were called to a life in the trenches never really knowing the impact of our calling.
I venture to guess that I am not the only one who sees what so many people are doing out there to change lives and to change this world in really good and big ways, and wonders to themselves, is anything I am doing making a difference? How can I reach as many people as “they” are?
When I die, and stand before God, will He say well done?
Will He say I made the most of the gifts He gave to me, especially those that could be used to serve others?
It’s so difficult not to get sucked into the comparison game. (This is yet another reason I really don’t care for social media.)
I don’t really get sucked into the comparison game when it comes to “things” like travel, material things, or our kids vs other kids.
Mine is more an internal comparison of what I am doing to serve God, share the gospel, and reaching others in that process, in comparison to so many already doing it so well with thousands of engaged followers.
I’m not comfortable with all of the self-promotion today, and yet I have taken enough on-line classes and joined enough podcasts to know, apparently that is what it takes to gain followers, build your network, and make yourself and your mission known.
photo credit: Mateus Campos Felipe @matcfelipe
I have really been struggling with this issue for quite some time now.
How did we get here? Is this really how we have to be in order to gain a following and build our network?
There was a day when people served in private, as scripture actually says we are to serve.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)
We live in a world that makes it very difficult to serve God and others and remain grounded.
We want others to know we are doing good things and we want to gain a following and support.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing and spreading the word does bring in support for our programs or missions type of work. Let’s face it, there are an incredible amount of organizations, good and bad, vying for our time and support.
For me, personally, I struggle knowing where the line is between sharing with the intent to inform others, and self-promotion, but then I also know, God expects us to put forth effort to bring about what He calls us to do.
Offline, I am confident in what I believe God is calling me to do right now in my life, but when I get online and see what others are doing and how much harder they are working to publicly promote what they do, and how their followers are growing, then I back pedal and question myself.
Should I be promoting my writing more?
Should I be promoting myself more? (not comfortable doing this)
Should I hire a Virtual Assistant to work my social media presence more?
I’m not getting “public” affirmations. Should I even be doing this?
People aren’t “sharing” my content. Is it “too much” faith?
What do I really have to share? I’m no one special. I’m an ordinary person.
Am I really qualified to say anything?
And then, I see a quote like this from a Christian speaker and author I adore, Jada Edwards…
“When you’re walking in God-given purpose, you don’t need a “big break”. You’re not starving for attention as affirmation or “connects” as confirmation. Every assignment, every yes to God-public or private-is success. If you live on mission you’ve already “made it”.
photo credit: David Iskander @diskander
Suddenly I am reminded of the 12 apostles and how God used those twelve to spread the gospel throughout the entire world, for generations, and they certainly had nothing like what we have today to spread the message God has put on our hearts.
This thought grounds me and I am humbled.
They had no desire for popularity (or in our world, social media followers, emoji’s, or “shares”). They had a mission. They knew their purpose. They were clear who sent them and what it was they were to do, and that God would be faithful to see them through.
In fact, remembering all the times God used one ordinary, unqualified person, without any means to communicate their mission (other than word of mouth) and accomplished great things through them is incredibly humbling.
Here is a list of a few of those ordinary people God used in big ways, and four common qualities they shared, from How God Uses Ordinary People-Scott Colvin.
Noah – He drank too much, but God used him to build the ark to save the world. (Genesis 6-9)
Abraham and Sarah – They were an old, washed-up couple who God used to build a nation. (Genesis 11-25)
Joseph – He was an entitled teen who went through God’s classroom, training him to save both Egypt and Israel. (Genesis 37-50)
Moses – He was a stutterer who was God’s spokesman and leader. (Exodus 3-4)
Rahab – She was a prostitute who God used to help his spies and overtake Jericho. (Joshua 2)
Jonah – He was the escapist who God brought back to save Nineveh. (Jonah 1-3)
Esther – She was the adopted orphan who became Queen to save Israel. (Esther 1-8)
Peter – He was the quitter who God brought back to start the Kingdom. (Matthew 26, John 21, Acts 1-2)
Paul – He was the enemy who became the most prolific Christian in the New Testament. (Acts 7-9)
While there are no qualities or failings that disqualify us, there are some common “ingredients” we can find in the people God uses to do the extraordinary.
These qualities do not come from man and are not talents, but all are drawn from a close relationship with God.
Here are 4 ingredients that come from a deep relationship with God that enable him to use us to do the unexpected:
It’s easy to look at these examples and convince yourself still, that, yes God used these sinners, these ordinary people, but He used them for GREAT things.
I get it. My mind tends to go there too, but remember, when God called them, they did not know if it would be for the purpose of affecting one life, one small change, changing a nation, or for changing the world.
Yes, they were human, and scripture tells us while they were courageous, willing, teachable, and had a deep sense of purpose, they also had questions, and human feelings and thoughts.
My point?
photo credit: Emily Morter @emilymorter
God can use you and me to do great things or small things!
If we are meant to change the hearts of one or many, or to effect the trajectory of our church, community, our city, whatever, all matter to God, but He decides the reach.
We are simply called to have faith and plant the seeds.
On a gloomy day in 1857 a man in New York City by the name of Jeremiah Lanthier scanned the morning newspaper as he rode to his office. He was distressed to read that the depression gripping the nation was causing fear and panic among the people.
Factories were stopping production and thousands were unemployed. Although Lanthier was not a big industrialist (but only a clerk), he had one important distinction. He was a man who had great faith in God!
Concerned with the grim economic situation, he sent a note to all his business acquaintances, telling them that each day at noon a prayer meeting would be held in his office. With high hopes, he arranged 20 chairs in a circle, but the first day no one came.
All alone, he prayed fervently that God would bring about a great change in him and in America. The second day he was encouraged, for a few friends joined him. A short time later, a similar gathering was started on Wall Street, another on Williams Street, and finally a fourth on Broadway.
Then like wildfire, the movement spread to all parts of the country.
The moral tone of the nation was affected, and there was a great upsurge in the spiritual life of the people. Some historians say that this effort of united prayer and faith was an integral part of the improvement in the economy, which soon followed. (The Power of One (sermon))
“And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” (Matthew 4:30-32)
We never know how God is using our lives and our testimonies to speak into another life. He might be doing great things, or planting that tiny mustard seed, but we can trust He will use us if we answer His call.
The trick for us is not to buy into or get wrapped up in the “numbers” or popularity, but to be certain of our mission.
When your attention is only on the here and now, you miss God’s long-term plan. When you just think about popularity, you miss out on character. When you concentrate on likes or shares, you forget holiness. When you just want to enjoy the earthly, public accolades, you may not prepare for eternity. (paraphrase from Rick Warren)
When you’re thinking is short-term, you miss seeing the spiritual work God is doing all around you.
Every single soul matters to God.
“When I started A21, the goal wasn’t to build the largest global anti-trafficking organization. It was about helping rescue one more slave.
We rescue a lot more than that today, and I thank God for it. Yet, while I want to help millions more, I don’t want the magnitude of the number to become so big that I let it get more important than the one.
What drives A21 is the one; because it’s not about what’s spectacular in the world’s eyes but what’s supernatural in God’s power, and, oftentimes, that’s the transformation of one life.
It’s what God has called each of us to do. So, let’s take the expectations off of ourselves, off of impressing everyone else, and let’s do what God has called us to do in Jesus’ name!” (Christine Caine, Founder of The A21 Campaign)
Let’s call a spade a spade, the real question I should be asking myself is not, how do I build my network and gain followers, but do I trust God to guide this journey, and will I be content for Him to take it to one or to many?
Will I waste time and energy focusing on the expectations of self, or do what God has called me to do in Jesus’ name?
Whether He touches one life or many through me, my end goal should always be the same, when my time on earth is done I desire nothing more than to be greeted by God and hear…
“well done, well done. My good and faithful one. Welcome to the place where you belong. You have run the race and now you’re home.”
(The Afters, Well Done)
I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came
And he said friend you may not know me now
And then he said but wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn't have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed
And I know that up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
I am so glad you gave...
Thank you~ Ray Boltz
To read about other ordinary people God used for extradentary things, check out the links below.
10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others
12 Bible Characters Who Did Great Things for God in Their Old Age
