All For The Glory Of God

What can we do with all that God has given?

Time, talents, passions, relationships, nature, thoughts, dreams, responsibilities?

Do we hoard such things in forgotten pockets or spend them frivolously?

Or are we as children, finding life under rocks and puddles after rainstorms?

Are we guilty of overlooking blessings like dull pennies at our feet upon roads paved with insatiability?

Do we share the gospel of Christ more than the gospel of self?

Are we capable of doing hard things with a tender heart?

The questions are easy, but the answers are often a little more difficult to discern.

There are those whose trials have given them permission to remain defeated and cynical. No one would judge… their path has been indisputably hard. Yet, instead of writhing in anger, they continue to work the harsh land, choosing to be preservers and planters of faith.

There are also those who live life as creative expressions — truth seekers who protect their peace and joy and aren’t afraid to share their reason for both.

You’ve met such people; perhaps you are one of them.

They hold material conversations more sacred than materialism.

They understand that most fiction has a chapter of truth in it, and biased minds ink most truth.

These harvesters of hope often live out their calling in the quiet company of the day, not demanding attention or craving shallow affection.

Others are recognized as the poets and painters… artists of life… gifting color to a world mired in black, white, and grey.

Still others choose not to conform to trends and opinions. They use their ingenuity to bankroll their wardrobes from thrift stores or repurpose an armoire into a kitchen pantry. To them, authenticity is always in season, and having style is more of an inward understanding and acceptance of self that results in an outward expression — neither of which requires worldly comparison to be of value.

Then there are the sentimental, deep wells who wear fedoras made of jute adorned by a daisy brooch once pinned upon their great-great-grandmother’s favorite dress. They twirl and hum beside nightstands and walls where memories are displayed. They are the nostalgic timekeepers — the preservers of old lace and lanterns.

Still more are those who tire of worn-out tropes and pop melodies. You may find them listening to French jazz — not knowing the language but understanding the essence just the same.

Grateful receivers of blessings often realize that even pain has a purpose if surrendered to God. They learn the often-messy art of letting go in a temporary world, and that prayers are more than platitudes.

Even more than this, these are the humble servants who allow Christ’s light to shine through their brokenness rather than curse their shortcomings or the darkness. And in this surrender, the power of God fortifies their peace and purpose, inviting them to rest, rise, and praise in His eternal presence.

What can we do with all that God has given?

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it…. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:26, 31).