Giving the most out of life

By John Fischer

You were put here on earth to make a contribution. God did not create us in his image to do nothing but sit around on clouds and play harps. He’s not doing that, so why would we ever think of this as a fitting conclusion for us? He created us to share in the ongoing creating and nurturing of his world. We were made in his image to share in his work. We are supposed to do that here on earth, and we will do that in heaven. And we can start today.

The need and capacity to serve was in us from the beginning. Adam was immediately given the job of naming the animals and subduing the earth. This did not change after disobedience took its course and banished him and Eve from the garden; it just got harder to do. Eve was given the job of being his helpmate and that definitely got harder to do! But nonetheless, we all have jobs. Not the job you get paid for, but a job to do in relation to your existence – a job to do in service to those around you.

The more we are conscious of this purpose, the easier it will be to figure out what this job is at any given time. Suffice it to say, it is primarily found in focusing our attention on others. This is in stark contrast to “getting the most out of life,” which has become the modern mantra of a “me” generation. This would be more along the lines of “giving the most out of life.”

Deep down inside, every one of us wants to leave something behind. We want to leave a legacy. We want to be significant. We want an epitaph with substance. God put this desire in us because it is one of our purposes in life. If your epitaph were written today, where would the significance lie? Who would be better off because of your life? If you’re anything like me, the current answer to that question makes me glad I still have time to affect it.

Think today of what you can add to someone’s life, not take away. Think of leaving situations better than you found them. Think of whom you can serve of how this can be a better day for someone because of you. This is important. It’s part of your legacy. Let’s be careful to give the most out of life today.

In the whole land, declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answerer them; I will say, “They are my people, and they will say, “The LORD is our God.”…Zechariah 13:8-9