Meaning.
Purpose.
All of us want our lives to count, but how? Is there a secret formula to it that a few people figure out and others don’t?
The truth is, while all of us want our lives to make an impact, only a few of us actually live lives that we would say make an impact. Instead, we just see people who are at work, in the neighborhood, and at school.
The people who make their lives count don’t focus on money, influence, or power. Athough, those things may come as the person makes an impact. No, the people who make an impact focus on one thing: relationships.
Impact is felt and measured in relationships.
So, how do we live our lives? How do we schedule our lives so that relationships matter to us, and so that our lives count?
One of the things I’ve seen as I’ve preached through the book of Philippians is that while joy and hope are significant themes in the book, relationships are an enormous part of it as well. Paul talks again and again about his love for the Philippian church. But he also spends a lot of time in chapter two talking about “putting the interests of others first,” and “to not think of yourself, but to think of others.”
Then in verses 19 – 30, he tells us about Timothy and Epaphroditus and how they exhibit these qualities.
They put others first by genuinely caring, putting the things of Jesus first, and being trustworthy (men of character).
As we think about our lives and relationships, there are three important and timely things in our culture.
Do you genuinely care for people? One of the things that Pual tells us about Timothy is that he genuinely cares for others (2:20), not just cares, but genuinely.
Would the people closest to you say you genuinely care for them? Are you showing interest in who they are, their story, what they are walking through, and how they see the world the way they do?
Or, are you only interested in what people can do for you?
We show care by being there for people, listening to them, watching out for them, serving them, and protecting them as the situation calls for it.
Timothy and Epaphroditus put their lives on the line to be with Paul in prison, to be with him in a low point of his life, and to put their lives in danger.
This leads to the next question.
Do you put the things of Jesus first? This is living your life for a different goal.
If you’ve made it this far and want to see your life count through relationships, then you are on your way to living your life for a different set of goals and values.
The values of our culture point to notoriety, importance, influence, money, and power. While none of those things are wrong or sinful, they don’t lead to a lasting impact. Those things make an impact, but not a lasting one.
A simple exercise for this week is to read Matthew 5 – 7, and see where your life lines up with this. Because we aren’t perfect, there should be a part of those passages that do not line up with your life.
Are you trustworthy? Another thing to think about is this: are you a person of character?
Both Timothy and Epaphroditus were men of character.
People of character are missing in our culture.
Men and women who will lead through serving can be trusted. They are the ones who will put others before themselves, and who are the same no matter who is around.
That is trustworthy. And trustworthiness is built over a lifetime, but can be lost in a moment.
How are you doing?
You probably know already, but if you want to be brave, I’d encourage you to ask these questions of those closest to you and see what blind spots you might have.
Our world, workplaces, schools, homes, and friendships need people of consequence, people who will make an impact with their lives. We don’t need people who flame out after their 11 minutes of fame, but ones who make real and lasting impact.
And we long for that as well.
