Secrets of Significance

The comic says there are three kinds of people in the world: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who say, “What happened?”

He might be right. Every person wants to be significant. On the human stage, some seem to be stars. Others stand in the wings or feel they are merely part of the audience. Yet there is that longing to matter, to make an impact. What is the best way to do it?

My devotional guide points me to the highest possible example. The verses are Colossians 1:15-18, and they say of Jesus Christ:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The author of this devotional book points out that Socrates taught forty years, Plato fifty, and Aristotle forty, but Jesus’ public ministry lasted less than three years. However, the influence of His life far outweighs the combined 130 years of the three greatest philosophers of all antiquity.

Jesus said very little about the arts, yet some of the finest work of Raphael, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and others were inspired by Him. He didn’t write or publish (well, not directly), yet Dante, Milton, and scores of other poets and writers have been inspired by Him. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that the name of Jesus “is not so much written as ploughed into the history of this world.” Even the music of Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, Mendelssohn, and so on “reached the highest perfection of melody in compositions about Him.” Jesus has affected human society like no other.

As I think about this, the key to His success at being significant is that He did everything His Heavenly Father asked Him to do. When I apply that to the human race, what do I see?

Some obedient Christians are in the public eye and noted for greatness in one way or another, but most are not making headlines. In fact, some might not even have that certain status in their own churches. In the economy of God, greatness is not measured by how much press a person gets, or even by the praise of their peers. His value system is not the same as that of humanity. In fact, Jesus said, “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).

I find this is a huge values-challenge. All my life, I’ve seen achievements measured by things like performance, appearance, popularity and bank balances. The significant people are household names, not hidden or content to go unnoticed. Then Jesus says, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45). He throws out all human ideas about significance.

As I press on toward the goal of being like Jesus, this values test pops up often. It can be in little things, like should I worry about how many hits I get on my blog? But it can be more challenging, like being unpopular with someone because I declared a truth and they didn’t want to hear it, or failing at something I normally do well, or just plugging away without being noticed or thanked.

God asked His Son to do far more than He will ever ask me, but no matter; Jesus is still my example. I must do as I am asked, without any concern if my obedience is recognized here on earth. God knows, and in the end, it is His plan that must be fulfilled and His glory that must be seen. Not mine. Not mine.