All of us want to be 'somebody.’ We want to feel that we are impressive people who have had great lives. Most of us spend large portions of our lives working to be sure that we have ‘made something of ourselves.’ When we meet new people and they ask questions like ‘what do you do?’, we want to have an impressive answer. outside of Christ, our goals in life are usually to make as much of ourselves as we possibly can for our own comfort and security. Yet with all the effort we seem to put into being ‘something’, the Bible actually calls us to be ‘nothing.’ But what does it really mean to be nothing?
To be nothing in this context is simply admitting that outside of Christ, we are much less than we were created to be. The Bible says that we ‘deceive ourselves’ if we believe anything else. We are created to submit ourselves to him and to serve one another. Our goal in life is not to make more of ourselves but to make more of Jesus. In doing so, we walk in the truth and will experience effective and joyful lives.
2. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5
In our own strength and from our own intelligence, we can do nothing of any lasting kingdom value. Sure, we can earn a living and go about our business without much heavenly help, but we are unable to do anything that brings true purpose or fulfillment, or meaning. We are rendered ineffective for the kingdom and leave no faith legacy.
Here Jesus compares us to branches. Branches separated from a tree will quickly die. The branch has no way to provide nutrients for itself. It cannot grow on its own. A branch simply cannot survive alone. In the same way, we receive our strength, sustenance, and ability to grow from Jesus, who is the true vine that we must connect to in order to live.
By becoming nothing, we gain everything! When we join ourselves to Christ, who is the true vine, we will find that in and through him, we will become and accomplish more than we ever imagined. When we take the leap of faith in surrendering to Christ, it is here that we find true meaning and fulfillment.
3. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. - Matthew 10:39
There are so many times when the teachings of Jesus go against what seems to make common sense. The Gospel pushes us to look deeper and go beyond what is practical or what our logic tells us to do. The idea that we find something by losing it is one of these teachings. Yet there is a rich depth to what Jesus is telling us. We have a tendency to hang on ever so tightly to all that we have, to the extent that trusting God with anything else is counter-intuitive. But should it be?
Why is it so difficult to let go of what is ours and trust the very One who gave us life and breath? The truth is that when we trust in Christ, life may not get easier, but it will be more peaceful and fulfilling. Letting go of our wants and needs that lead to anxiety and self-focus will open a door to a life that is focused on eternity and service.
4. “but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” -Philippians 2:7
Some seem to think of God as a faraway deity in the sky that has no care for us and just wants to punish us when we do wrong. The truth is that not only does God know what it is like to lie and walk among us, he actually did it.
Jesus is not a good man who did good things," He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus said clearly that he and the Father are one (John 10:30), and anyone who looks on him has seen God himself (John 14:9).
Knowing this gives us great encouragement as we seek to become nothing and live a life fully hidden in Christ! God does not ask us to ‘give up’ who we are as we live a life of becoming nothing, he instead uses our willingness to submit to him as a means to fill us up with good and perfect things beyond measure. Jesus emphasizes this in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
5. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” -Matthew 6:33
This verse solidifies the idea that becoming nothing is the only means to truly gain everything. Living the standard American lifestyle, going with the flow, and adding a bit of Jesus on top is not enough to get us where we are headed. We worry about what we are going to eat, how much money we can make, and how we will spend it. Yet Jesus promises that when we seek the things of heaven first, deny ourselves and allow God to truly work in and through us, we will receive exactly what we need when we need it.
The earliest believers in Christ gave up all they had – sharing with one another in unity and accepting whatever consequence came with following Christ. But they found that it was fully worth it and that small group of believers has grown with every generation to follow. Let us strive to seek him first and make ourselves nothing in order that we may bring him glory!
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Jason Soroskiis a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.
