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Transferring credits can be a maddening process.
I experienced this once. I started seminary in one place and then we moved to start [a] church, so I had to end up changing schools. And sure enough, some of the credits that I earned at the first school wouldn’t transfer to the other. It was frustrating, to say the least. It felt like my scholastic achievements were for nothing.
There’s a similar credit transfer problem that happens in the kingdom of God when it comes to our accomplishments. It can be even more frustrating and maddening because we’re so accustomed to operating according to the world’s standards of measuring success. But it’s something we have to take to heart because it’s the way God works.
The credits of men on earth don’t transfer to the kingdom of God. What I mean is that just because the world says you’re successful doesn’t mean you’ve impressed God one bit.
God really doesn’t care about how much money you’ve earned.
Where you’ve gotten your degree from.
Or what letters make up the title in front of your name.
The things that we think are major accomplishments aren’t to God.
For at least two reasons.
First, it’s kind of hard to brag to a God who spoke the universe into existence. I just can’t see God being blown back by our résumé. Especially when the source of all of our accomplishments is Him. Also, it’s kind of insulting to His grace to think that any amount of achievement could earn the love and favor that has already been achieved for you.
Second, I don’t think God is looking for the same things we are. If you take a cursory look through the Bible, these were the kinds of people and things that stood out to Him:
A young shepherd on the backside of nowhere whose heart was after Him (1 Samuel 16).
The faith of a man who shouldn’t have had any (Luke 7:1–10).
The meager but total generosity of a peasant woman compared to the lavish but incomplete giving of the rich around her (Luke 21:1–4).
I’m not saying you need to downgrade your job. Or make yourself poor. Or that your success and accomplishments can’t be used for God’s glory.
I’m just saying that you shouldn’t assume that you’re at the front of the line to be used for His glory because of them. Besides, in God’s order of things, the front isn’t necessarily where you want to be anyway:
So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:16.1
*
Someone was wondering how the Lord looked at them—how He saw them when He looked at their life, what His evaluation was. They didn’t feel so great about themselves or their accomplishments.
Here is what He told them. If this resonates in your heart and you can imagine Jesus saying this to you, then let this be an encouragement to you, too, because Jesus has enough love to go around. Or you can ask Him for His personal words just for you.
Jesus said:
Let Me tell you what I see when I look at you.
I see My beloved child. As a parent gazes into the eyes of his child and feels nothing but love, so I look upon you. I feel such pride in seeing how you’ve grown from a child to adulthood, and the wise and mature choices that you’ve made over the years.
I see a yielded heart, one who has said yes to Me time and time again, even when you felt incapable or as if you didn’t have the strength to go on.
I see a sacrificial life lived for Me. You’ve laid your all on the altar of sacrifice countless times, even though it cost you dearly.
I see one who has been willing to follow Me no matter where I lead, who has had the faith to take the steps I charted for you, even though you often couldn’t clearly see the path ahead or what the final destination would be.
I see an unselfish and giving soul, one who puts the needs of others before your own and gives even to your hurt.
I see a humble vessel who has been willing to go through My refining fires so that I could make of you even finer gold.
I see one who is strong in faith, even though you may feel differently. Your faith has endured the test of time; you’ve stayed true to My calling, to the still, small voice speaking to your heart, to the fundamentals and the foundation principles that I’ve taught you these many years. I know that your faith is built on a solid rock and will not be easily tossed to and fro.
I see My honored messenger. You’ve given your life to the cause of spreading My message of love to others so that they too can find the joy of My salvation.
When you’re tempted to wonder if your accomplishments have been valuable or whether you have lived your faith well, just remember that I see your life differently than the world does. I see the true values of your life that you and others may overlook or that may not be as plainly visible—qualities that make a character that is worthy of admiration, contributions that will live on in the lives of others and will continue to make a difference in the world.2
Published on Anchor June 2012. Read by Simon Peterson. Music by Michael Dooley.
1 By Pastor Steven Furtick.
2 By Maria Fontaine. Originally published February 2011.
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