The Bottom Line
6 min read
10 From the priests:
Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,
— Nehemiah 11:10-12
In the Bible, the concepts of work, service, and worship all kind of meld together, especially with respect to the temple. Through our union with Christ, these concepts are channeled into bearing witness to Jesus Christ for the sake of God’s glory.
Many people ask what is God’s purpose for their life. That question is the most important question that anyone could ask. But practically everyone who asks that question is thinking in terms of personal glory. In other words, they are asking, “What are the things that God wants me to do so that I may experience the most wealth, success, and health for MY life?”
People ask the right question, but the focus of the question is completely off the mark, leading inevitably to the wrong answer.
God has told us the bottom line of His purpose for our lives. It is to work-serve-worship God in order to bear witness to Jesus Christ, and in so doing, to bring glory to God. That is exactly what the apostle Peter meant when he referred to the followers of Jesus as a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood.”
When Christians learn to embrace that truth with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, they will come to experience the presence of Christ in their lives, which is the only source of living a truly blessed life.
I hear this ad on Spotify all the time from Comcast. The ad promises that Comcast will offer robust data services so that people can pursue the things that they value the most: friends, family, and career.
Of course, that ad is for a general audience, not a Christian one. But thinking about that, I realized that many, if not most, Christians hold those same values. Not that those values are bad; they’re good values. But many Christians tend to disconnect their “spiritual” values from those “real life” values.
If I were to ask any random Christian in the South Bay, “What are your values,” they might say, “God, family, friends/career/church.” “Friends/career/church” could come in any order—third, fourth, or fifth. But the separation of “God” from “church” is evidence of the devil’s lies at work in the hearts and minds of believers today.
They say “God” first, because they feel like they have to say “God” first. And they say “church,” because they feel like “church” is supposed to be in there somewhere. But the fact that “church” is third or fourth or fifth tells you where God really is on their value system.
In the past, in times of revival, believers never would have thought to separate “God” from “church” in their value system. They understood what it means to be a holy, royal priesthood.
The priesthood of the believer is a fundamental biblical truth that should shape what every believer values. If I am yoked with Christ, I too am a holy, royal priest, and being yoked with Him, I will find great peace and joy and rest—if my value system is right.
Father, You are so kind and patient with me. I confess that my value system is so often wrong. And yet, my trust is in You. I turn to You because I have no ability to make my value system right. All I can do is turn to You. Lord, make my value system right so that I may experience the blessing of Your presence. In Jesus’s name. Amen.