Made for More

You weren’t created simply to consume resources—to eat, breathe, work, accumulate things, and take up space. You were created to add something to the world around you, not just take from it. God wants your life to make a difference in the lives of other people.

In fact, helping others isn’t just a good idea. It is part of God’s plan for your life.

The Living Bible puts it this way: “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” —Ephesians 2:10 (TLB)

Think about that for a moment. Before you were born, God already had a purpose for your life. He didn’t save you simply so you could sit back and enjoy His blessings. He saved you so that your life could become a blessing to others.

Your Service Is an Act of Worship

One of the most important things you can understand about serving is this: when you serve people, you are ultimately serving God.

Colossians 3:23-24 says: “Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. In fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and you know he will reward you.” —Colossians 3:23-24 (CEV)

That changes the way you look at even the smallest acts of service.

Changing a diaper. Making a meal for someone who is struggling. Listening to someone who needs to talk. Praying for a friend. Serving in your church. Encouraging a coworker. Visiting someone who is lonely.

None of these things are insignificant when they are done for God.

Jesus made this incredibly clear in Matthew 25. He said that when we serve and care for people who are hurting, overlooked, or in need, we are serving Him.

“Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” —Matthew 25:40 (CEV)

Imagine standing before Jesus someday and hearing Him say, “You did that for Me.”

That ought to change the way we view service. You may think you're just helping someone. God sees it as ministry. You may think you're just volunteering. God sees it as worship.

You Don't Have to Be a Pastor to Be a Minister

When many people hear the word ministry, they immediately think about pastors, missionaries, worship leaders, or other people who work for a church.

But, if you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to serve and minister to those around you. You don't need a microphone to minister. You don't need a title to minister. You don't need a seminary degree to minister. You simply need a willing heart.

God can use you right where you are.

Your job may be your ministry.

Your family may be your ministry.

Your neighborhood may be your ministry.

Your friendships may be your ministry.

God has uniquely created you—your personality, experiences, gifts, abilities, resources, relationships, and even the difficult things you've walked through. None of it has to be wasted.

God can take everything you've experienced and use it to help somebody else.

Your pain can become compassion. Your experience can become wisdom. Your testimony can become encouragement. Your gifts can become tools God uses to change lives. Your story can become someone else's hope.

If heaven is our ultimate destination, why does God leave us here in a broken and fallen world? Because He still has something for you to do. Your salvation isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of your assignment.

God has a purpose for you here. He has people for you to love. He has people for you to encourage. He has people for you to serve.

And when you faithfully use what God has given you to help others, you are living out the very purpose for which He created you.