Living a Significant Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

I looked up the definition of “worthy” the other day. And then I searched for its opposite.

I’m not sure what I was expecting with this antonym—maybe worthless or unworthy. They’re both unpleasant ways to describe something or someone.

But I discovered the opposite is much worse. The word that appeared in that thesaurus was nothing. Not the blank-page-kind-of-nothing, but the actual, literal word: nothing.

In my experience, the Enemy is a weapons master at hurling this antonym at us whenever he gets a chance. He chucks it at me as an accusation when I face a setback or defeat. NOTHING!

He stabs at my identity with it when I question my value or feel isolated in my loss. You’re NOTHING!

I’ve felt the sting of this word, over and over, as I try to wrestle myself free of the comparison trap. “See how worthy THEY are?” an envious voice would whisper. “And look how NOTHING you’ve become.”

I wish these whispered insults were easier to discount than they are. I wish NOTHING was easier to ignore. But when our hearts are heavy-laden under grief or disappointment or failure, “you’re nothing” seems to resonate.

The whisper gets a microphone. We start to believe it. Nothingness festers, and we start thinking thoughts like:

What I do doesn’t matter.

Compared to her, I have nothing to offer.

Why bother when they can do it better?

My gifts aren’t special. My purpose is small. What’s the point?

I’m guessing that you’ve had a few of these thoughts yourself. Maybe they’re even resonating with you right now. You and I have a way of eagerly agreeing with the accusation of NOTHING. We’re quick to buy into the lie. Slow to turn a deaf ear.

But let’s imagine that the Apostle Paul is writing directly to YOU through Colossians 1:10 today. He says to walk worthy. To walk in a way that’s pleasing. To walk in a way that’s fruitful. To walk in a way that is growing closer to God.

To walk, not aimlessly, into NOTHING, but walking worthy–toward something that yields goodness, he reminds us that we can bear fruit in every good work and that this fruit matters.

The fruit someone else produces is not your concern; you have your own fruit to bear. The path someone else walks is not your concern; you have been given your own lane to run in. You’ve been given a calling in Christ Jesus. Walk worthy in it.

In the Kingdom of God, there is no power struggle; there is only a powerful union. There is no lack, only abundance.

If the Enemy can convince you that you’re nothing, he can also persuade you to do nothing. Don’t buy the lie.

Walk in the worthiness secured by the gift of God’s grace, and choose to give it the same way it was given to you: generously. Put yourself in a position to grow in God today. Do what is good.

You are not the opposite of worthy. NOTHING no longer commands your identity. Instead, walk worthy of the Lord. Let Him fill your empty cup so that nothing but His fruitfulness overflows. And nothing–literally NOTHING–can stand in your way.

REFLECTION:

What is one step you can take today to move away from the lie of "nothing" and walk toward God’s abundant purpose for you?