Useful Living: Your Relevance to the Body of Christ

The True Measure of Useful Living

Useful living is directly relevant to the body of Christ. This fundamental truth reshapes how we understand success, purpose, and significance in our Christian journey.

What matters most is not how celebrated you are by the people in this world but rather how relevant you are to the body of Christ. This perspective challenges the world's definition of achievement and redirects our focus toward eternal significance.

The Church: Serious Business to the Lord

The church holds a position of supreme importance in God's heart and plan. He gave Himself just to have the church to Himself. This sacrificial love demonstrates the value God places on His church and the lengths He went to secure her for Himself.

The apostle Paul illustrates this divine love through the marriage relationship:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV)

The Message translation captures the depth of this love beautifully:

"Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already 'one' in marriage." (Ephesians 5:25-28 MSG)

The Essential Requirement: Listening to Jesus

Except you are listening to Jesus, you will not be able to please the Father. This simple yet profound truth establishes the foundation for all Christian living and service.

Ephesians is referred to as the royal capstone of scriptures. No other book of the Bible contains the amount of truth found in Ephesians. This makes understanding its teachings crucial for effective Christian living.

The only way to truly get life right is to hear Jesus on every matter. This principle applies to every decision, every relationship, and every aspect of our existence.

The Pattern of Belief and Establishment

Throughout scripture, we see the pattern of belief leading to establishment and prosperity. King Jehoshaphat understood this principle when he declared:

"So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.'" (2 Chronicles 20:20 NKJV)

God's Final Communication

The progression of divine communication reached its pinnacle in Christ:

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." (Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV)

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit continues this pattern of pointing us to Jesus:

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16:13 NKJV)

The Father's Clear Instruction

The Father's instruction regarding His Son is unmistakable:

"While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'" (Matthew 17:5 NKJV)

Divine Order and Establishment

To order is to direct, set definite boundaries and patterns. This divine ordering is part of Christ's governmental authority:

"Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:7 NKJV)

Conclusion

Useful living is not measured by worldly standards of success or recognition. Instead, it is determined by our relevance to the body of Christ and our ability to contribute meaningfully to God's eternal purposes. Since the church represents serious business to the Lord, evidenced by His sacrificial love for her, our usefulness must align with His heart for the church.

The key to achieving this useful living lies in consistently listening to Jesus on every matter. As we hear His voice through scripture, the Holy Spirit's guidance, and divine revelation, we position ourselves to be truly relevant to the body of Christ and pleasing to the Father. This listening posture enables us to be established in faith and to prosper according to God's definition of success, which far exceeds any worldly achievement.