Hammers aren’t great for tenderising steak. Yes, they can do it, but we have tenderisers for that. They have a wider impact area and some have points to help break up the collagen bonds. Tenderisers aren’t good for hammering in nails. Yes, they can do it, but they may be damaged, and I couldn’t guarantee the accuracy of the nailing.
Everything works best when it’s doing what it should be doing.
I was deeply moved as I watched Matthew Perry (Chandler from Friends) talking about how empty he had felt on achieving the ‘American dream’.
“I got the great job, I was good at it. I had a house … it had a pool. And I really really like it, loved it for about six months. And then I walked in my house and went “Oh man, this is not fixing this problem that I have.” Matthew Perry
He went on to talk about something that he had heard Jim Carey say:
“I want everyone to get their dream, all their dreams come true, everybody. So that they could know that it’s not the answer.” Jim Carey
The problem isn’t the getting of the dreams, it’s that the dreams aren’t good dreams.
‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.’
King David, Psalm 37: 4
When our Father is our delight, our desires will be His desires. Not because He is manipulating us to crush our desires, but because we see what our true desires really are. We see what brings us joy and peace because we see who we are.
So what is the meaning of your life?
You will find the answer as your relationship with God deepens and you learn to hear and respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; but here’s a tip to get you pointed in the right direction at least:
“Joy and peace come from stewarding well.” William Thompson
God is very clear as to the mandate of man (the species, not the gender):
“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen 1: 26
Then the Lord God took man … into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Gen 2: 15
Yes, man was created to steward God’s creation. You are alive in order for God’s creation to be stewarded.
So what does this look like for you?
A person is a faithful steward when they look after that which is within their mandate. Things thrive when you work with them, love them, discipline them.
Let’s start with your body – how do you steward this most basic resource? Your job might be connected with helping others steward their body well, through exercise or teaching them to cook well and buy healthy produce.
How about your mind – do you steward you mind through learning and meditating on things that are life giving? Your job might be an educator, a psychologist, a listener, a problem solver.
How about relationships – how well do you steward your relationships? Your job might be connected to helping others steward, or develop healthy relationships with, their children, or their elderly relatives, or their partner.
How about society as a whole – it could be in ensuring fair judicial processes or keeping laws, developing policies and thinktanks.
Finances are another resource, maybe you help others steward their money, house, or investments well.
Living things – do you have a desire to help steward animals, fish, birds, trees, crops; tending them, naming them.
The earth – do you have a desire to regenerate the soil, reduce carbon emissions, reduce flooding, discover innovative ways of harnessing the energy from the sun, wind, waves…
The body of Christ – helping Christians understand our mandate: to love God, ourselves, and one another as we seek to see His Kingdom come in and through us. NB: the pinnacle of Christian endeavour is not to be a pastor!
As you can see, being a Christian is about being fully human. The Holy Spirit guides us, informs us and empowers us to see God’s Kingdom come and His will done here on earth as it is in Heaven.
If you find yourself feeling like a meat tenderiser trying to knock in nails, spend some time in prayer. I often find myself overwhelmed with the needs of our world, but I find that holding my hands open before the Lord and saying “Father, I am yours, I release what I am holding onto to you and am available to be your instrument” is a good start.
True joy, true peace, is found as we walk with the Father and He says:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25: 23
Unveiling Faith with William Thompson 