I remember feeling so confused and discouraged the first time I read the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes from a void in his life and a search for meaning. He reflects on the major accomplishments in his life in light of the reality of our lives being but a vapor.

Solomon writes,

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

That verse isn’t the most motivational for sure. The reader is left with the thought, “Then what’s the point of even trying?” I dug deeper to find his ultimate message is to encourage us to not waste our lives trying to justify our existence with pursuits that ultimately mean nothing. Instead, he prompts us to make our lives count for eternity.

When we love and serve Jesus fully, we are doing the same thing today that we will do for eternity. We are making the ways of Heaven known on earth.  This is the way the Lord intended us to live when He said, “On earth as it is in Heaven”.  Even if what we are called to has been done so many times before, there’s still great purpose in it. Purpose that will count for not only this life time, but for eternity.

Have you ever wanted to try something, but never did due to the thought, “What can I say or do that hasn’t been done already?”

I believe when we are putting Jesus first, He will start leading us to use what He has put in us for His glory.  Whatever that thing is. The thing that you enjoy, feel called to, or do well. That thing that makes your heart come alive. It may be singing, helping others in the medical world, playing an instrument, crunching numbers, painting, photography, writing or speaking. You fill in the blank. Yet, so many of us aren’t using our gifts to make Jesus known in the earth.

It’s true; there really is nothing new under the sun. No matter what your talent or gifting is, it most likely has been done before in some form. History does repeat itself.

But the thing is, the sun is huge,

and there is room for us all to live out our dreams under it.

We need you to do your thing.

We need you to be fully you while you’re doing it.

We can’t do what we are called to fully, if you’re not doing your thing.

We are all meant to play a unique chord in life that certain people will identify with more than they would with any other chord.

What happens when you get under your chord?

Someone else could be great at what you’re great at, but only you can do that thing in the unique way you were created to do it. God created us each with a blue print unlike anyone else in the earth.

I think if we all begin to appreciate the full, complete, and multi-faceted body of Christ, comparison would disappear!

Lisa Bevere speaks such truth when she says, “There’s enough glory to go around for each of us, and when we’re all operating in our created purpose, together we are the most glorious. Paul taught us that Christ’s Body is made up of many members that have different functions.”

These verses are so rich with truth!

“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ…. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you”

1 Corinthians 12:12-21

What is your function? He wired each of us so uniquely to function as only we can. Maybe you’re not surrounded by others who see your wiring and encourage you to function. It’s so important to find a church where they see your wiring and set you in place to function well.  A church full of family who love you, see what is in you and encourage you to try something new and uncomfortable.

As Kevin Leal says, “If the gift is not expressed, the person becomes depressed.” We are the most alive and joy-filled when we’re doing what we are called to.

I don’t know about you, but I’m super grateful the Lord made this a team effort. I’m glad that I don’t need to function in all things well, I just need to do what I am called to.

Thankfully, the Lord gives us grace for the place and things He calls us to. I know I’m not in place when the grace isn’t there and I’m having to try too hard. If the grace is there you’re in place.

Let’s find our place and make our lives count for eternity!