Why are we valuable or useful?

Not long ago an older retired ministry colleague of mine apologized for not responding sooner to a letter I'd sent him many months prior. He explained that he'd had major physical and mental health issues, and recently a bit of improvement, just a bit.

He finished by saying he "was unable to function in any useful way".

I wrote back to him personally, but thought I'd share what I said, because it contains what I consider a very important truth, important at least for me never to forget. Maybe it will help you and help you help others.

Dear John Smith,

That’s all fine. I did of course catch up with your news on the grapevine, and have prayed once or twice for you, especially with the brothers in the fraternal.

The Lord be with you.

You have functioned usefully for the Lord in many ways over many year.

Of course, you and I both know our value to God is not from our functionality, but because we are twice-owned by God—created in his image and bought back from our sin by the precious blood of his Son.

So we are his children by grace and adoption, whether we feel weak or strong.

Now, in a way, I guess you get to remember that truth and model it to others in your ‘retirement’. Believe it.

And when you feel up to prayer, then, although that is done in private, it is certainly of great use in God’s gracious economy, as Paul repeatedly tells churches that support him (Rom 15:30-3; 2 Cor 1:10-11; Phil 1:19)!

Yours in Christ,
Sandy