You are made with a purpose. You are made to serve God by serving people. You don’t exist for yourself. The Bible says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
Just like a potter makes a clay pot to hold water, just like a wood crafter works wood and nails into a chair for sitting, we are God’s workmanship made for the purpose of serving Him. We are not simply made to sit in the stands and watch the game of life pass by, we are made to get in game and make a contribution in God’s work.
If we are made to do good works, it means we are made to be a blessing to others. This, the Bible says, is what “God prepared in advance for us to do.” This is His plan for us, every one of us and not just some.
In other words, God has given you some people that you can serve, some that you are to help and care for, some that you can lead to Christ.
And the 2nd verse we read this morning - 1 Peter 4:10 says “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
We are all given certain gifts so that we can bless others, and we are to be faithful in doing that. Since God made each of us unique, you do not need to compare yourselves with others, or copy what others are doing. You are different, but you are given some gifts and you need to do something with them.
When you compare, you can sure find someone doing a better job than you, and you’ll be discouraged. Or you’ll find someone who is not as good as you, and you become proud. Either way, God is not pleased.
God made us different so that we can contribute to His work. When everyone contributes and we complement one another, His work is done. We are to be diligent and faithful in doing this.
We love God and we want to serve Him. How can we serve a God who is unseen? We serve God by serving people.
Every time you serve someone, you are fulfilling God’s plan in your life. Jesus himself said we are to serve others “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matt 20:28)
A pond will become stagnant when it takes in water but does not give any out. We call it the Dead Sea. When a Christian keeps receiving bible knowledge (biblical input) but has no outflow of ministry – not doing anything to reach out and touch lives - his spiritual life will stagnate.
God expects us to be doers of the Word. This is clear in the parable of the Samaritan man. The person, who pleases God, is not the one who knows what is right – like the priest and the Levite, but the one who does what is right – the Samaritan man. It is comfortable to just know and not do, because to do requires sacrifices. But the Bible says, “Faith without deeds is useless.” (James 2:20)
Anyone can serve God. You do not need a diploma or a degree to serve. You just need a heart of love.
Whenever you see a need right in front of you, God is giving you the opportunity to practice serving. Anytime you have a need, it is obvious - somebody needs help. God is giving you the opportunity to learn to serve, to learn to be more like Jesus Christ. Jesus once took a towel and a basin of water, and began to wash the disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5), because the need was obvious.
If you see that someone has a need, at school, in your office or here in this church, guess what? God is giving you the chance to practice serving – to “do the good works which He has prepared in advance for you to do.”
Illust: NO UNIMPORTANT ACTS OF SERVICE
Several years ago two teenage boys tried to come into a church service at night, but it was packed and they couldn’t find any seats. So they turned around and decided to leave.
But one usher saw them and called them back, “Come, let me find you a seat”. And that usher personally escorted them, down to the centre and set them in the middle and found them two seats.
That night both of those boys accepted Christ and became Christians. One of them was Billy Graham, who became an evangelist and led many to Christ.
There are no unimportant acts of service in God’s logbook. His records include the smallest acts of service to the largest ones, all done for His glory. The Lord says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41). God takes note of even the simplest deed.
That’s why 1 Cor 15:58 says, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
We are to be faithful in all that God has for us, big jobs and small jobs! Today, we need to ask, am I being faithful to the work that God has called me to do?
Life is short. Whatever you can do, you can only do it now, in this generation. The Bible says in Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…”
So was Paul. In Acts 20:24, he says, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus gave me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Paul did not care much about getting rich, or being famous in life. All he was concerned about was to do the work God has given him.
I read a story about a woman who worked in an office building. She has 11 children, and very little free time once she gets home from work. But every day at 11.55am, she gets up from her desk and she drives over to the correctional institution where she leads an hour Bible study with female inmates. And she’s been doing this every day for 25 years.
You know why? She wants to make an eternal difference for Jesus Christ. There’s more to life than just working from 9 to 5 each day. There’s more to life than eating, sleeping and playing. There are things we have to do, but beyond that there is the ultimate goal of reaching out to a hurting and dying world with the love of Jesus Christ.
God gives us life today so that we can live for Him. We are here to contribute, not just to consume, and to be a blessing to someone.
Let me share with you this story about The Pencil:
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are five things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Just like a pencil, we need to remember these five things in order to become the best person we can be:
ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various trials, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
FIVE: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark.
No matter what the situation, we must continue to do our part.
Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:20-21
“20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter [wickedness], he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
Isn’t that great, to live a life with such a grand purpose?
There are people you see here that needs your love. There are people you see each week that needs your concern. And there are many more that needs to hear about Jesus. Focus on these people.
Dear friends, if you’re here this morning and you’re not a Christian, God wants you to know that He made you with a purpose. We are to know Him and live for Him. He is our God but we cannot draw near to Him because of our sins. You need to put your trust in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, in your place and mine, so that we can be forgiven and be reconciled with God. Jesus rose from the dead and gave us the guarantee of an eternal life in heaven, with Him. He is your Saviour. Pray and invite Jesus into your heart today, and you will be saved.
