Significance Comes From Serving

In 1 Peter 4:10 it says, “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” (NCV)

Whenever I pursue something in life, I do it hoping that it will give me significance. But the only way to really experience significance is to serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people.

Significance does not come from status or a hood ornament on your car or a logo on your shirt. Significance does not come from a bigger salary. Significance does not come from sex.

Significance comes from service. Significance comes when I start thinking about other people more than I think about myself and give my life away. I cannot be selfish and significant at the same time.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others” (NCV).

What are your talents? What are the unique skills and abilities God has given you? They were not given for your benefit. God gave them to you for the benefit of the people around you. We are all shaped for significance, and we will find that significance by using our gifts and talents and abilities to serve others.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break” (NCV).

I may think it’s easier to do things on my own. I may prefer solitude. I may need my alone time. But I will always get more done when I serve with other people.

We are not meant to serve God by ourselves. We are meant to serve God on a team. We are meant to serve God in a family, in a small group, in a church. We are meant to serve God in relationships.

If we want to find significance and give our best to God, then we need to serve him with our community.

In summary, as a good manager of God's gifts, I must use my gifts for the good of others. My abilities should be faithfully used in serving others, they aren't for my personal enjoyment or selfish gain. Fulfilling my destiny requires recognizing the unique way God has created me. God has given me gifts for a purpose. I have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts, not in a selfish way but for the good of others. A key to living a productive and fulfilling life is to use my gifts to serve God by serving others.