Many women struggle with finding their purpose in life. A friend in Bible study recently demonstrated this when she said she desperately wanted to know her calling. She looked around our group and pointed to the friend next to her and said, “God made you good at many things. I don’t do anything. What does God want me to do?”
It’s easy to compare ourselves with others and come up short. We can help our mentees avoid this trap by helping them discover their spiritual gifts and value the quality of faithfulness. Much of our lives are spent on routine tasks. It is important to help women see how these repetitive activities are holy to God.
Since humankind’s fall in the Garden of Eden, we’ve all struggled to believe our lives matter. We think our success in life is connected with being outstanding in a particular area. Well, it is. But we often overlook the trait in which Jesus wants us to shine.
Being Faithful Tops Being Sensational
When Jesus illustrated what He hoped to find at His return He didn’t spotlight an esteemed synagogue teacher or a powerful political leader. He described someone involved in the repetitive work of feeding a household. He described faithfulness.
“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns” (Matthew 24:45-47 NLT).
What could be more ordinary than managing a household and overseeing meals? [easy-tweet tweet=”Being faithful in ordinary roles is extraordinary to Jesus!” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#faithful”]
What unique role does your mentee play in her circle of influence? Is she someone’s wife, mother, sister, friend, or daughter? No one else can replace her in those roles. Being faithful in these unique areas pleases Jesus and fulfills her purpose.
Faithfulness Pleases God and Brings Joy
Jesus emphasized the importance of faithfulness in the parable of the talents. In this story, an owner distributed talents to three servants according to their abilities. Two immediately put their talents to work. The third buried his. The master rewarded the two who employed their talents. He punished the lazy servant who buried his.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:22).
The servants who faithfully invested their gifts not only earned their master’s praise, but they entered into his joy. Since God distributes talents as He chooses, gifting doesn’t impress Him. The world will always applaud talent and achievements, but God will always applaud faithfulness.
How can picking up toys, preparing meals, and cleaning up messes matter in the grand scheme of life? These tasks are part of nurturing a family, and that matters greatly to God. When God wanted to change history He often chose a baby and a godly mom. Think of Samuel and Hannah, Moses and Jochebed, and Jesus and Mary.
God’s called every Christ follower to represent Him in her sphere of influence (2 Cor. 5:21). Our purpose is to be faithful and bloom where He’s planted us with the abilities He’s provided. Faithfulness makes Him smile.
Make sure your mentee knows her life matters in God’s story.
What assignments from God have you minimized because they looked so ordinary?
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