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My instinct is to think that in order to serve God and his people well, I need to bring something to the table. I need what others have.
At times I still think God didn’t get it right with me. If he’d made things go a little differently, if I’d had a shot at university, I could have been more of an asset to the church and God’s kingdom. If only I were, well, someone different, I’d be so much more useful as a servant of God.
We can easily conclude that God could use me if I was like another person, but because I’m not, I’m not much use.
Is this how you feel when it comes to your life? Is this how it feels when you think about serving God and your church?
Most of us look at other people and know they’re better than us—academically, or in terms of confidence, or speaking ability, or simple strength, or musical gifts, or energy, or ability to make friends, or whatever. And then we can easily conclude that God could use me if I was like another person, but because I’m not, I’m not much use.
The world will tell us that what we need to do is just to realise how brilliant we really are (or maybe you’re already there—you do think you bring a lot to God’s table). But the Bible says that the answer to feeling too weak or unable to serve is not to try to feel strong...
In Psalm 139:13-16, King David is marvelling over the mind-blowing process of how he was formed in his mother’s womb (v 13) and praising God that before he was even created, his life had been planned for him and written in God’s book (v 16).
Friend, that is true for you no less than it was for David. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God, in his sovereignty, planned your days before the foundation of the world. Before all things were created, he had set his affections on you and predestined you to be holy and blameless before him (Ephesians 1:3-6). Before you were even a twinkle in your mother's and father’s eyes, your heavenly Father had laid a place at his family table for you.
You are not defined by what you do or do not bring to the table; you are defined by the fact that the one who created you and has your days within his hands has invited you to the table because of his Son, Jesus.
What you bring to the table of the kingdom is you!
God wants you and me to serve as the people he has made us to be. The only living sacrifice I can give is my life, not someone else’s. My life, with all its imperfections, weaknesses, experiences, moments and gifts. What you bring to the table of the kingdom is you!
You are a member of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5), who has been given gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the whole church (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
Who God has made you to be is deliberate! And it's the primary means by which you can serve. The life he has given you is the foundation for how you will best serve him, his church and the world. He does not make mistakes. You can truly serve him with all your personal experiences and even your weaknesses.
Would you like to read more about how you can serve God as He has uniquely made you to? This article is an extract from the short, practical book Serve by Steve Robinson. It’s great for reading on your own or discussing in a small group. Get your copy here.
Steve Robinson is Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Liverpool and Director of the Cornerstone Collective. He also leads the Acts29 church-planting network in the UK. Steve is married to Sian, and they have four children. He's a passionate Liverpool supporter.
