“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)
What are you living for? If everyone’s life on this side of eternity gets spent, gets used up until they die, what will you spend yours accomplishing? What is worth sweating and bleeding and suffering for?
You’re not an apostle – and might not even be thinking of going into “full-time ministry” – but you couldn’t do much better than to borrow Paul’s purpose statement from today’s verse for why he was willing to use up his days doing such hard things.
You might be able to hear it better if we reverse engineer the verse: “So that God will get glory from overflowing thanksgiving from all the people his grace is reaching, I am willing to suffer whatever it takes (in God’s power and knowing I will be resurrected to perfect and painless life in eternity).”
So what are you willing to live, work, suffer, and die for before you get to heaven?
Think: Which is bigger in your life today – the goal to avoid hard things for your comfort or the goal to do hard things for God’s glory?
Pray: Ask God to help you to feel so motivated by bringing him glory that you’re willing to use your life up serving people who will thank him for his grace.
Do: Look for an opportunity to serve someone this week in way that’s not necessarily easy or comfortable for you.