Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR:
If you’re successfully serving your family, business, and community with Christ-like love, you’re already doing enough for the Kingdom.
What?
The most common thing I hear from successful men who come work with me is this: “Everything’s good – business is good, family’s good, wife’s good, we date regularly – but I’m just not doing enough for the Kingdom.” It’s fascinating – they’ll tell me all these areas where they’re thriving, yet still feel this weight of inadequacy. This morning during Bible study, I was reading Philippians and a phrase jumped out at me that I hadn’t noticed in readin and studying it the night before. Paul writes, “According to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything, but with all boldness, Christ will even now as always be exalted in my body whether by life or by death.” That phrase – “I will not be put to shame in anything” – stopped me. How often have I been running on a program of shame?
Why?
I share this because so many successful Christian men carry unnecessary shame about their Kingdom contribution. They’re excelling in multiple areas of life yet feel like spiritual failures. This shame isn’t from God – it’s a lie that keeps us from recognizing the Kingdom work we’re already doing. When Paul says he won’t be put to shame, he’s declaring freedom from the very feeling that plagues so many of us. We need to understand that if we’re treating our spouse, kids, neighbors, coworkers, and even enemies with Christ-like love, we’re actively serving the Kingdom right where we are.
Lesson:
Serving God’s Kingdom isn’t measured by how much more you can pile on your plate – it’s measured by faithfulness in what He’s already given you. God asks us to serve; He doesn’t keep score. Sure, there might be different rewards in heaven, but that’s not the point. If you’re imitating Christ in how you treat people in your daily life – your family, your workplace, your community – you’re already serving His Kingdom. The enemy wants you to feel ashamed, like you’re never doing enough, because shame paralyzes us from recognizing and celebrating the Kingdom work happening through our everyday faithfulness. Can you do more? Sure. Can you do better? Always. But should you feel ashamed about what you’re currently doing? Absolutely not. You’re already serving if you’re living out your faith authentically in the spheres God has placed you in.
Apply:
Write down three ways you’re already serving God’s Kingdom through your current roles as husband, father, business leader, or community member. For each one, note how you’re imitating Christ in that area. Then identify one specific way you could “turn up” your Christ-likeness in an existing responsibility rather than adding something new. This isn’t about doing more – it’s about recognizing what you’re already doing and potentially doing it with more intentionality.
You be blessed!
