Usefulness

   It seems that all of us are born with a need to be useful. We want to matter to someone or something and want to feel that what we are doing is at least somewhat important. In short, we want to count. Is that feeling something that God puts into our makeup, or is it just an ego trip?

   Oswald Chambers, in today's reading says "The tendency to-day is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make usefulness their ground of appeal. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure that ever lived. The lodestar of the saint is God Himself, not estimated usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that Our Lord heeds in a man's life is the relationship of worth to His Father. Jesus is bringing many sons to glory."

   When I look at a lot of the things that I do, I have to ask the question why I do it? Is it so others will look at the activity and give me the praise for doing it? Would I do it if no one knew? Does it take the continual praise of others to keep me on the job?

   If our natures put us in the frame of mind to be useful, then I need to look at my motives for the actions.

   Am I willing to trade the praise of man in the moment for the "well done, good and faithful servant" praise of God in the future?

   Of course, my correct answer is yes, but do I actually live that way?