The Social Virus of Insignificance

“I am a worm,” the Psalmist declared. How much less significant could a person be? Worms for the most part are ugly, about as low as you can get, vulnerable and often overlooked as nothing.

It represents self defamation at its worst, and yet it is a social virus of insignificance that has plagued men and women down the corridors of history. The 10 men who were sent out as spies to examine the Promised Land returned and were so embarrassed by their ineptitude that they confessed that they were but grasshoppers with tobacco juice running down the sides of their heads and incapable of competing with the horrendous giants in the land. They were petrified by their insignificance.

Insignificance touched a raw nerve with Moses when he was enlisted to confront Pharaoh. Mary was horrified with insignificance when as just a teen age girl was in line to become the Mother of God. The Prodigal son was eaten up with the dry rot of insignificance when he tucked his head in shame and returned to the father to beg forgiveness and a job to work on the farm as a servant. Forget the amenities that go with the job. “Just give me another opportunity,” was the petition that he made. Unworthiness was his plague that he carried home with him.

Now let’s face it. We all long for and hope to have significance that an umpire has at a baseball game. It was in one such game that a hitter lined a ball into the gap in out field and raced around the bases and came sliding into third. After the dust settled, the player picked himself up, dusted off his uniform and blurted out to the umpire, “Well, am I safe or out?” Unperturbed, the seasoned up replied, “You ain’t nothing till I say so.”

Now that’s significance! “You ain’t nothing till I say so.” The search for significance is in the hands of God. He has the last word and the last say. His plan and purpose for our lives holds the paramount position. He turns nobodies into some bodies. He takes sheep herders and makes them kings.

Proverbs 16:33 (The Message) gives us this assurance. “Make your motions and cast you votes, but God has the final say.” He has promised to make us kings and priests and over comers. He has promised that we would win and not lose regardless of what the odds are. He has promised to make us the head and not the tail. He has promised to raise us up and not allow anyone or anything to pull us down. God said it. I believe it, and all hell can’t stop it. God has the final say regarding your significance and His measure may surprise you. It is not based upon your IQ or social status or level of education or financial worth. It is not calculated on your beauty, weight, height or color of your skin or hair.

God recognizes and applauds your significance measured in terms of:

• The values you espouse.
• The Godly example you set.
• The friends you make and keep.
• The words of encouragement you often speak.
• The perseverance you sustain in times of pain.
• The dedication to servant hood as a way of life.
• The difference you make in the lives of others.

As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, a man strolled along the sandy beach as the tide gently feathered out under his feet. Just ahead, he caught a glimpse of a young man bending down to pick up a stranded starfish and hurling it far out into the sea. Again and again he performed this routine. Finally, the old gentleman ask him why he spent so much time and energy dong what seemed to be a total waste of time. The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die in morning’s sun if something were not done.

“But,” said the elderly man, “there are thousands of miles of beach and millions of starfish. How can your efforts make a difference?” The young man looked down at the starfish he was holding in his hand and replied, “It makes a difference to this one.”

You can make a little difference in the life of someone today, and that little difference can be a big difference to them. You are significant. God says so.

You Are Significant,

Pastor Jimmy & Bob