It’s one of those things a lot of people say, and that, of course, makes it a prime candidate for a meme. “Without God, I am Nothing!” floated across my computer screen last week, and it made me pause. Is this true for you? It isn’t for me. Let me explain. I believe in God and am convinced that Jesus is the incarnation – God in human form. I have committed most of my life to doing God’s work and helping others get better at being people of faith. If these things were not realities in my life, would that mean that I am nothing? That my life has no meaning? In a word – No! I know many people who are atheists and/or agnostics whose lives seem to be pretty great. They love life and people and do good whenever they can. They have happy, loving relationships – they care about the world. Their lives aren’t nothing.
I will say that with God, my life is better. Knowing that the Almighty loves me makes me feel good about myself, and that love guides me every day. I go to church even when I am not leading worship because I need that weekly spiritual encouragement. I read the Bible so I can speak with knowledge when people need encouragement and when others misuse it to hurt those they disagree with. I pray to let God know that I am connected and connecting with others who are struggling. I believe I would be less than I am if I didn’t do those things. But nothing? That isn’t just arrogant – that’s hurtful! That is bullying. That isn’t a God-thing.
This has nothing to do with heaven or hell. It isn’t about being more or less than others. If those are the reasons you are faithful, you might want to rethink the whole idea. We don’t believe in God to be better than others – we believe to be servants to others. We aren’t faithful to be first – we are faithful to be last so that others can have better lives. Jesus said it a lot – the first will be last and the last will be first. If we are faithful because God is a commodity to be won, we are delusional. It is in the giving that we receive; generosity is the real blessing, not economic gain. It would be more Jesus-like to say, “With God, I am Nothing“. The Apostle Paul gave up his privilege to be a follower of Jesus. The disciples whined about it – we gave up everything, they complained. Yes, Jesus said; yes, you did. What good does it do you to gain everything and lose your soul? Getting isn’t the point; giving is.
Being a believer doesn’t give us privilege or power; it tells us to give those things up. It tells us to lose the attitude and treat others as better than us. It forces us to love the unlovable, which includes non-believers. Faith helps us to be better at giving, not judging. Because even without God, we are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. That is something.
Prayer – Help us to tend our lives in Your image, God of those who believe and those who don’t. so that our lives may speak of You. Amen.
Today’s art is “Generosity” by Nasim Maserat.