What is your life worth?
Our culture is one of social media posts, selfies, and a steady diet of self. Advertisements, TV shows, and movies serve up an almost constant stream of self-gratification and comfort. We are told to seek our own individual happiness and comfort and to dismiss anyone who dares get in our way. We are told to promote self, make much of self, that self deserves the best. Now, in light of our culture consider these words of Paul in the book of acts.
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
(Acts 20:22-24 ESV)
Paul, led by the Spirit, is heading to Jerusalem where he is not certain of everything that is going to happen to him, but he does know that imprisonment and affliction await him. He knows trials are coming but that reality is not what consumes his thoughts. Knowing what is coming, Paul does not account his life of any value nor as precious to himself. In the original language, this phrase is actually “of worth a single word.” So, what Paul says is “but I do not account my life as even worth a single word.” It is not worth one mention.
So, what is Paul’s focus?
He says, “if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” His focus is that he will be faithful to finish the course and the ministry that he received from Jesus. He is singly focused on doing what God has called him to do. A course has been set for him and a ministry has been given to him by Jesus and Paul’s concern, knowing that imprisonment and afflictions await him, is that he finishes what has been given to him to do. I do not mean to suggest that Paul never considered what might happen to him in Jerusalem but whatever was going to happen did not discourage Paul in his ministry nor deter him from going to Jerusalem. Come what may, Paul desired to complete his task, “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Do we share this same attitude with Paul? We do not know what the future holds but do we, like Paul, say, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Do we consider our lives as not even worth a single word if we can only be faithful to finish the course set out before us by God? Do we consider our lives not even worth a single word if we can only finish the ministry given to us by Jesus? Do we consider our lives as not even worth a single word if we can only testify to the gospel of the grace of God?
By His grace alone,
Josh