Greetings,
Have you ever wondered if your life really matters much? Have you asked yourself, “Am I really needed?”. Such wonderments aren’t uncommon or unusual – we’ve all probably pondered such things from time to time. And these questions aren’t problematic, in themselves, provided we come to a godly conclusion in answering them.
Christ said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31) Sparrows aren’t worth much in any culture. They’re not among the elite in the world of birds. As a matter of fact, they are considered a worthless nuisance by many and are simply destroyed. But Christ’s point is that not one of them falls to the ground without our Father noticing. Each one is important to Him and we are each of far greater worth to our Father than an entire flock of sparrows. Sparrows weren’t made in God’s image, but we are. None of them have repented, been baptized, come under the blood of Christ and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. None of them can offer up fervent prayers for one another. No sparrow will ever come to the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ as a spirit born child of God. Christ used sparrows, a very insignificant little bird, to illustrate how much our Father cares for each of us — even if we sometimes wonder about our own worth.
It’s not good to think more or less of ourselves than we should, because there is a godly balance that we need to achieve. Paul wrote, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3). The opposite of wondering if we really matter or are needed is to think we’re more important than we really are. The balance we each need is to think wisely and soberly concerning ourselves. Perceiving ourselves as more important or less important isn’t wise and isn’t good for those around us. Continuing, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5) The fact that we are each a part of each other means we each individually have an impact within Christ’s body. None of us is an island unto him- or herself. We are each needed and we are needed in a balanced state, because there is danger in imbalance.
What is the danger? When we put more confidence in ourselves than we ought, God will be slowly displaced from our lives. And the same thing can happen to those who fail to recognize that God has given them a personal part to play within the body. Those caught on either side of this imbalance can become spiritually lethargic, forgetting that the living God is working a work in them. In Hebrews 6:11-12 the apostle Paul wrote, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” God desires that we each live our lives with fervent desire to contribute to the body in whatever way He’s provided for us to do so. For some that means eagerly doing physical things that need to be done. But for those who can’t do the physical any more – it means to be fervent in prayer and concern for others. I remember so well the thoughts passed on to me from an elder in God’s Church about forty years ago. He said that he appreciated (as we all do) the prayers of all of God’s people of any age. But he said that when he found himself in a trial, he would sometimes request (on a personal level) prayers from the elderly. James said that the fervent prayers of a righteous person avail much and that was the principle behind this man’s reasoning.
So when we ask ourselves, “Does my life really matter?” or “Am I really needed?”, let’s be sure to come to a godly conclusion. We each are vital members of one another and share the same hope until the end. We all matter to God.
All the best,
Marshall Stiver
