“I believe that every right implies a responsibility;
every opportunity, an obligation;
every possession, a duty.” John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
As women, we are forever being confronted with a sense of our worth and usefulness or a lack of it, are we not? If someone asked you what your treasures were, how would you answer?
Our usefulness is generally wrapped in the package of what we do with what we value. What would your list look like? Would you list…Parents, husband, kids, faithful friends, life-lessons, influence, experiences, relationships, personality, money, salvation…?
What have you done with what you have been given? Invested it? Buried it? Lost focus? Been too busy for it? Counted on others? Made excuses? Procrastinated? Been fearful of failure?
The value of a life is measured by how much is given away with eternal purpose.
“After a long time, a man returned from his trip and called his workers to him to give an account of how they had used the money he had left with them. The servant who had been entrusted with five bags of silver came forward with five more and the man said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now, I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Matt. 25: 19-21
“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said,” Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.” But the Master replied, You wicked and lazy servant.” Matthew 25: 24-26
God has given each of us exactly what we need to equip us (women) to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ (starting with our nuclear family). We will be mature…no longer undeveloped and useless. We won’t be tossed and blown about. We will not be influenced when other’s around us try to trick us with the lies of this world and our current culture. Instead, we will speak God’s truth in love (because the Word has been read and implanted in us!), growing in every way more and more like Christ. As each part does its own unique work, it helps other parts (our husband and children) grow, so that the whole body (beginning with our own family) is healthy and growing and full of love.” Eph. 4: 11-16
How am I to use my treasure to build my family and the body of Christ; to cause other’s to speak well of God because of us; to invest in relationships that will multiply; to translate life-lessons into tools to benefit others; to influence my children to seek the heart of God above all else…etc.…?
My children are grown and I have seven grandchildren. They carry the truth of those verses in Ephesians…or they don’t! Being responsible to build a healthy, growing family is an intentional challenge and it is never over until they are throwing dirt on our coffins!
BUT GOD has given us everything we need to do the job He has called us to and HE will do it, if we get out of HIS way, stay dead to our selfishness and pride and allow HIM to live through us…. Phil. 4: 13
We, then, become valuable tools in HIS hands
With a huge sense of worth…
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
