J. Alec Motyer, the Irish biblical scholar, pastor, preacher, and author, recounts a moment when an elderly man in his congregation, grieving the loss of his wife, quietly remarked, “It must be that the Lord still has something for me to do. Why else has he left me here?”
Alec gently responded, “My dear brother, God has not left you to do anything except to love him still.”
One of the temptations in our lives today is grandiosity. We feel like we need a grand purpose, or that God wants each of us to turn the world upside down. It’s hard to see how living an ordinary life of love could mean anything. We want to set the world on fire and make every day count. But that’s not what Scripture tells us. The truth is, most of us won’t live extraordinary lives, and that’s okay.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12, the Apostle Paul writes, “We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.” That’s a call to ordinary faithfulness, to the kind of life that counts.
I recently heard Mark Dever talk about being just another link in a long chain of faithfulness. A single link is both insignificant and important at the same time. It’s just a link. It doesn’t stand out; it’s one of many. Yet, its integrity is crucial. You don’t want that chain to break. Our lives are both insignificant and important at the same time.
It is enough to live faithfully, loving those God puts in our path, staying committed to our local church, and fulfilling our responsibilities. Our lives might not seem special, but to God, they matter greatly.
I had a friend who interviewed for a new church position. When asked about his vision for the church if hired, his response shocked them. He said his vision was that by the time he finished serving there, he would love the Lord more, love his wife better, and have a few good friends. They were surprised. Where was the grand plan to transform the church? He told them all of that was secondary. If he didn’t have what he described, nothing else would matter.
I think he was right. Beyond any accomplishments lies God’s purpose for us: to love him, enjoy him, and serve those around us. That’s why we’re here. Everything else is secondary.
In the words of Matt Redmond in his book The God of the Mundane:
Be nobody special. Do your job. Take care of your family. Clean your house. Mow your yard. Read your Bible. Attend worship. Pray. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Love your spouse. Love your kids. Be generous. Laugh with your friends. Drink your wine heartily. Eat your meat lustily. Be honest. Be kind to your waitress. Expect no special treatment. And do it all quietly.
I’m trying to recover from my own grandiosity and be content with my ordinariness, knowing my life counts even though it’s ordinary, just like everyone else’s.
What does God want us to do? Simply love him. Life isn’t only about our accomplishments; God has a higher purpose. It’s about our love for him and others. What we accomplish isn’t as important as our ultimate purpose, which isn’t about tasks or achievements but about continuing to love him still.