Dear SCC & Friends,
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ ~Matthew 25:21
Update #33
Some people like recognition and some people don’t, but we all need it even if it’s not our primary “love language.” God has created us that way, and to greater or lesser degrees recognition and affirmation remain central to our lives. In business I was once told I had done a magnificent job. On another occasion in a different environment someone said I’d be nothing but a “first-class” ditch digger…at least he said “first-class.” Charles Simpson once remarked about a comment from his high school football coach, “Charles, you may be small, but you’re slow.” I pray that none of us derive our identity, value or worth from what others say. The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Our identity and all that entails is in Christ – He made us, saved us, and has given us a future and hope in this life and into eternity. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. ~Ps. 103.1
When it comes to life’s accomplishments, every one of us has received credit or blame, and known success and failure. Certainly, affirmation and success feels better than the alternatives, but both ends of the spectrum can be deceiving. What matters in life is how God sees us. God not only made us, but placed us, gave us our gender, ethnicity, personality and giftings, and is the final complete and perfect judge of what matters in life. Os Guinness said it well…the Audience of One—we cannot define or decide our own achievements and our own success. It is not for us to say what we have accomplished. It is not for us to pronounce ourselves successful. It is not for us to spell out what our legacy has been. Indeed, it is not even for us to know. Only the Lord can say. Only the Last Day will tell. Only the final “Well done” will show what we have really done.” Keep up the good work! God bless you and yours!
Love in Christ,
Kevin