I
have never met anyone who had planned to live a mediocre life. Even an ordinary
person has a routine they repeat. However, if we want to live a life that
counts, we have to be intentional about it.
Do
you ever wonder if you are making a difference in this life or life after? I
believe all of us have an innate desire to live a life that counts. God puts
gifts and talents in each of us so that we can make a difference in our world.
When
I was a teenager, I loved reading. I stole half of the books from the library
to add to my own so that I could read them whenever I wanted to. I had no
purpose and certainly; no significance in life. My goal in life was to own a book
shop in a busy train station where I could sell books and magazines, and read
them for free. I am glad that God didn’t grant me my wishes. I say this humbly,
but He called me to touch lives around the world!
When
we talk about living a life that counts, we have to ask ourselves, “Are people inspired to draw closer to God because
of the influence in my life? Are people motivated to serve God in a greater
capacity because of my faith, courage and devotion to Him?” The true
success of our lives is not measured by our job titles, bank balance, bigger
house and faster cars, but how many people we have been able to impact.
In
the 1993 movie Schindler’s List,
directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, the story unfolds about Oscar
Schindler during the Nazi reign and the Holocaust. Oscar is a vainglorious and
greedy German businessman who gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish
employees who are condemned to death in the concentration camps. Oscar saves
eleven hundred lives! In the end, he becomes so engrossed in saving lives that
he starts to lament to his co-worker. “I
could have got more out. I could have got more out. I didn’t do enough! This
car. Why did I keep this car? Ten people right there. This pin. This is gold.
He would have given me two for it, at least one. [Starts sobbing] I could have
gotten one more person… and I didn’t!”
It is
easy to be so self-absorbed that we forget about living a life that counts. We
get so caught up in our jobs, business, kids, grandkids and the house, that we
forget that none of it will matter in eternity. People are the only thing going
to heaven! Albert Pine said, “What we do for
ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
One of the biggest hindrances to giving
is to think that our gift is too small. In the Bible, a great crowd of people followed Jesus. It
was lunch time and they had no food. Suddenly a young boy offered his five
loaves and two small fish to Jesus. Today, you may think you have nothing to
share with this world. You don’t feel that you can live a life that counts. But
we can all learn from this young boy. Not only is our little much in the Hand
of God, but when we do anything for God He will make sure that our name is made
great. Two thousand years later, we are still inspired by what this young boy did.
We should regularly ask ourselves, “What
difference am I making in the lives of others? What will people remember me
for?” When we spend our time in the service of others, we will find
ourselves in the favor of the Almighty.
Friend,
are you making your life count? It is not enough to live the American dream but
endeavor doing what God cares about. President John Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream
more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Friend, lead
others by example. Let’s not waste another day in mediocrity, regret and narcissist
behavior. God still has a purpose for your life. Like Oscar Schindler and the
boy with the bread and fish, God wants to use you and make your name great. What
you do today is how you will be remembered in eternity. Live intentionally and let
us live a life that counts.
“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and
those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever” (Daniel 12:3 NLT).
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