Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1)
It is easy to rejoice when God uses us, but much harder when He uses someone else, especially when they get to do what we long to do. This article helps us rejoice when God uses others, seeing it from the perspective of God’s kingdom. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
I have a friend named Tom who has been in ministry longer than I have been alive. He is a man who seems to have Psalm 115:1 “tattooed” on his forehead. Tom goes everywhere preaching that verse. It permeates his prayer life and faith.
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.”
Tom is wholeheartedly devoted to God getting the glory. He always wants God at the center. He is a gifted leader who lives out Christ, and he has had the opportunity to mentor some of the most influential people God has used to shape our generation. All the while, most people have never heard his name, and he is completely fine with that. He is humble and meek, knowing that his ministry is not about him. Tom doesn’t expect attention or praise: “Not to Tom, O LORD, but to Your name be the glory.”
Why Them?
I suspect that deep down most of us look at Tom and wish, “I want to be like that.” There is something very attractive about people who see God’s hand on others’ lives and ministries, wholeheartedly champion their efforts and rejoice in their success, people who see God’s grace at work in others’ gifts and fruit and can’t help but encourage them.
But for many of us in ministry, that is not reality. When someone receives the leadership opportunity we long for, or the recognition our hearts crave, instead of rejoicing that God chose them, we start questioning our own worth and value. We ask, “Why them? Why not me?”
That sometimes leads us to build a list of reasons we are better suited or more capable. Sometimes it leads us into judging and tarnishing others’ names. And then discouragement robs our joy as comparison floods our minds and hearts, along with the enemy’s poisonous lies about who God is and who we are.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), Jesus never says God loved the servant with five talents more than the one with two. He gave to each according to his ability, and it was all grace. Can you imagine what we actually deserve? We do not deserve opportunities or influence. Not at all! We deserve only death and hell.
God Displays Himself
God, by His grace, chooses to use us, not as a statement of how much He loves us or how valuable we are, but as a display of His power in and through broken sinners like us.
Ministry is not the measure of your worth; the cross is. Nothing compares to the stripes our Redeemer bore. God uses you not because you are great, but because He is. He doesn’t need you, but He wants you. He made you fearfully and wonderfully, uniquely in His image, and He gave you new birth by the power of the resurrection. He redeemed you with the precious blood of Jesus and calls you His child.
Stop comparing yourself with others and rest in the power, kindness and wisdom of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and He set us apart beforehand to serve and lead for His glory. When God displays Himself through someone’s life, gifts and fruit, we should not try to grab the glory that belongs to Him alone by constantly asking why we aren’t like that. It doesn’t start with us.
It is hard to have joy when you keep grieving over what you don’t have. I don’t know what you will choose, but I choose joy.
Not to us, O LORD, but to Your name be the glory!
Rejoicing When God Uses Others
When God uses someone else, it is not a sign that He has forgotten you. Everyone has a role in the body of Christ, and ultimately the glory belongs to God, not to any of us.
Practice praying for those God is using, and sincerely congratulate them. Envy will gradually give way to joy as we remember that we all serve the same Lord.
You may also like: 5 Ways to Cope When You Feel Unappreciated and Ministry Isn’t Just for Sunday.
Prayer
Lord, forgive us for the times we envy when You use others. Give us humility to rejoice in everything You do, and remind us that all glory belongs to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Thu Thủy
Adapted from: DesiringGod.org
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