Pastor Elwin Ahu
July 8, 2001 - W0127

God made each of us unique and special. Arenít you glad that God didnít make someone else that looks just like you? Some of the most interesting cases that Iíve had, sitting as a judge, involved forensic scientists as witnesses.  They would give testimony on evidence that would detail the specific differences that make each one of us individuals.  In fact, they can actually nail a suspect down to 1 in 5,000,000 with DNA, fingerprint, and voiceprint analysis. One day, I came back home after studying about this subject for one of my cases, and I said, "Honey, thereís nobody else created just like me!"

And she said, "Thank goodness!"

As fascinating as this may be, this uniqueness about ourselves has somehow spawned an individualistic society, with an attitude of me, myself, and I. I saw an editorial cartoon with four words on a gigantic monument with chiseled letters.  On the very top was the letter, "I". The second word, was "M-E", then "M-I-N-E", and the bottom said, "MYSELF".  At the base of this huge monolithic monument there were a hundred or thousand people with arms outstretched, idolizing this individualism, and worshipping this idol. And in bold letters, the caption at the bottom read, "speaking of American cultsÖ"

In todayís "me-first" world, we have grown into an independent, self-sufficient, and "survival of the fittest" culture. The world has become large and impersonal. We busy ourselves with getting involved in activities, and have grown alienated from each other.  Weíre crowded, but many will lead lonely lives. We seem to be pushed together, but yet weíre uninvolved.

As painful as it is to admit this, itís plain to see ñ weíre losing touch with one another. As one commentator wrote: "The motivation to help, encourage, and to serve our fellow man is gradually deteriorating."  I submit that one of the reasons that we are in this condition of selfishness, and not of servanthood, is that we live in a success-driven society today. If you go to a bookstore, they have shelves of periodicals and books on how we can improve ourselves, how we can look better in front of other people, and next to that bookshelf, is a stack on how we can be successful by improving ourselves. We have conferences, audiotapes, CDs, videotapes ñ all about self-improvement and success for me, myself, and I.

But, in the search for success, people still are not finding the fulfillment, contentment, and satisfaction that comes from a life of significance.  When you live at this level of significance, you begin to see that our lives matter, that we arenít just taking up space, and breathing air.

So how do we get there? How do we achieve a life of significance? This advice that Iím going to give you is not going to be found in the Wall Street Journal tomorrow morning, or an executive magazine. In fact, this advice is a 180? from what youíre learning in these success-driven books.  Letís look at the book of Matthew in the Bible,

Thereís a very sharp contrast between Jesusí philosophy and that of the world. In the world, they teach you that there are levels of authority, and a life of success is defined by your place in the hierarchy.  But, in the kingdom of God, a life of significance in His master plan is established simply through serving.  It has nothing to do with position or power.  Sadly, there are so many people who will climb this ladder of success and never learn their significant role in this world.  They will never learn their purpose or discover how they can find their fit in life.  It starts with serving.

So what is serving all about?  Letís take a look:

1. Serving is an invitation to Godís Party.

I truly believe that God wants us to enjoy this life. Do you think that heaven is a drab place? No! Heaven is a place where theyíre having a great time, and God wants us to have the same thing here.

As I have done my daily devotions over the past six years, I have never had a day where the Bible has been insignificant or boring.  Instead, it has been exciting and adventuresome with intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Most importantly, Iíve found that God has a sense of humor. Heís really a fun guy!

We make choices in life that pull ourselves down into a ditch every once in a while.  But God says, "Thatís not the life Iíve designed for you. Iíve prepared a party for you!"

God extends an invitation to this party. He has chosen you to join this party so that you can show others how great He really is.

Heís invited you to this party, but hereís the catch ñ youíve got to respond. When youíre invited to a huge party, you need to RSVP donít you?  Take advantage of this invitation. And as you respond, you will begin to discover that:

2. Serving demonstrates our love for Christ and our obedience to Him.

God is ready to bless you and pour everything upon you ñ if you obey Him.  Once you start listening to the commands He has for you, Heíll give you that significant lifestyle.  But, He needs to shape you in the meantime, doesnít he?  So what youíll discover when you start obeying and listening to His commands, is that:

• Serving defines and shapes our character.

Serving is not all fun and games. Yes, this is a party, but isnít there work to be done in every party? Sometimes youíre going to hit challenges along the way.  The Bible views trials this way:

Trials exist to shape us into completeness.  Through these challenges, your character qualities will be developed, leading you to a life of significance.

It is through serving, that we start to take our sights off of ourselves, and begin to focus them upon others. Just as Jesus has commanded us to:

This is an instruction that Jesus gave us because He knows that by following it, we will be lead to a life of significance. So in short, not only does serving shape our character, but also:

3. Serving draws out our greatest potential.

The word ëworkmanshipí comes from the Greek, ëpoemaí from which we derive the word ëpoemí.  Itís a word that literally describes the taking of different fabrics and weaving them together.  As the different pieces and shapes are woven, it slowly becomes a masterpiece in the eyes of the maker.

You are Godís workmanship. You are His poem. In the eyes of the maker, God Himself, you are a masterpiece! But, you must allow yourselves to be woven together.

I donít know how you may feel right now.  You may feel that youíre not very valuable, and that youíve gone through some things that make you unworthy. Or even now, you may be going through something that has destroyed the emotions and feelings that you have on the inside. Remember this: God has created you, chosen you, invited you to His party ñ He has made you a part of His poem!

As much as you may feel rejected and dejected, you are every bit as important to Him as the next person. You have so much in you that God wants to be used.  But, it cannot be sitting on the shelf ñ we were created to be Godís masterpiece to do good works. It is only then that we begin to realize the greatest potential within us.

You may feel comfortable staying where you are because thereís always going to be risk involved as we take a step forward, but God has already equipped you.  Heís given you everything you need and has built every bit of potential within you. You gotta dance!  If youíre given a choice to sit or dance ñ you gotta dance!  Join in to Godís party.

Question 5: How will you be different from what you just heard?  (Or: If Jesus was the greatest servant of all, what are some of the ways that you could be like Him during the upcoming week?)