A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver (Proverbs 25v11)
All of us have a desire to have SIGNIFICANCE and society persuades us that we obtain this by being Admired and Accepted through our Achievements and Appearance. But real significance comes about when we have a relationship with God and pursue a Godly lifestyle.
The Book of Colossians chapter 3 verse 12 tells us: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
If you are a Christian you have been chosen by God to have a relationship with Him. Therefore, you must have significance to Him. But our verse continues that you are dearly loved by God which means you are super-significant and have no need to seek significance by attention seeking (often with bizarre looks and behaviour), anti-social conduct or addiction to harmful substances.
Every day we make a decision about what clothes to wear depending on the activity we are engaged with and the impression we want to make with others. But more importantly as we prepare each day to interact with people, we make a conscious decision metaphorically whether to carry on wearing the old smelly clothes of pride, greed, anger, jealousy and selfishness or “clothe ourselves” with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
These attributes are often seen as a sign of weakness, but in fact they describe “meekness” which is “strength under control” and are in fact qualities which people love even if they might not say so. They are attributes which were displayed by Jesus whilst here on earth as examples of what God expected His creation to exhibit and if mankind had we would have no crime, no wars and no GBV.
To sum up – there is no greater way to have significance than being God’s light in this dark world. If we do, our lives will have real meaning and we will positively influence our family, friends and society.
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood