Misery or Greatness

My misery confirms my greatness.

I’m paraphrasing Pascal, but it is nonetheless true. Despite my accomplishments. Despite all that I have and that which the world craves and idolizes, I am not satisfied. Success is bitter and failure is unbearable. Why is this so? Where have we gone wrong? We went wrong from the very beginning. We know that Adam (and Eve) was created in the image of God and commanded to rule the world. Rule the world as the image of God. Be fruitful as the image of God. My misery is a direct result of not fulfilling my role. God called all men to be an authority (to rule) and be creative and productive (fruitful). Where is the place we can accomplish the goals that God has set for us? How can we operate with authority in a world that hates, or ought to hate us? How can we be creative and productive when the world demands so much from us?

Authority is permission and freedom from doubt. If I give you the authority to write check against my bank account I’ve given you permission. This is what God gave Adam when he told him to rule over the world. He gave Adam permission to make decisions. Authority is given. Authority is also a freedom of doubt. An expert in a subject is so well versed in the subject matter that he is free from doubt in that subject. Adam was told to subdue the world, to name the things of the world. Authority is earned through works. Only when authority is both given and earned does it produce fruit. There are many examples in the Bible. Think of Paul prior to his conversion. He had done the work and earned authority. People respected his authority out of fear. No one challenge him, including the chief priest, when he asked for warrants to arrest Christians in distant towns. Where was his fruit? On the road to Damascus authority was given to him and “immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues” (Acts 9:20, NKJ). The most powerful evangelist the world has ever known is born. You and I are part of Paul’s fruit! Contrast that with Solomon. Solomon was given authority but did not earn it, God made him king, gave him wisdom and treasure beyond anyone else in the world. Solomon squandered it all. His works were sinful and ultimately his pedigree was removed from Israel. His son ruled Judah after the split of Solomon’s kingdom, not Israel who was God’s chosen nation. Where is Solomon’s fruit? Authority must be given and earned (authority not salvation which is only given) under God’s direction to produce fruit.

How do we find the area that God has called us to? I can do many things well but I also know there is something that God desires me to acomplish. I know there is a job that only I can do, only I in all of creation, past, present and future. Only Mozart could have composed Requiem. I can barely write a measure, it’s not my gifting. So the question I must answer is where is my gifting, where is my passion? Passion and misery are incompatible. Work in God given authority, in God given passion and your fruit will be uncountable. So where is your passion? Where is my passion? What is it that I can do all night, every free moment, and not feel drained? What am I good at, what do I enjoy. That’s a good start to find what God has chosen for me.

Imagine what Mozart would have been if he were only a farmer. I imagine the passion to compose would have torn him apart. It would have been destructive because it would have been sin. God’s will for him was to compose music. Mozart was writing full symphonies by age 5. Mozart earned authority through countless hours practicing and God gave him authority. Mozart heard and understood composition like few others. God gave him something else to go with this authority. God gave Mozart passion in this authority. During his life Mozart wrote over 600 compositions. Mozart died at the ripe old age of 35! That is an average of 3 weeks per masterpiece.

You were made to be great. You are miserable only because you have not found your greatness. Find your passion. Earn your portion of authority. Receive your gifting. Banish your misery.