“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ — Matthew 25:23 NIV
I was walking on the beach today. It was gray and windy. Rain began to blow in from the ocean and my mind was wandering in those mists. For some reason, I started thinking about playing basketball back in high school. I used to love playing ball. I can’t play anymore, but I still like to watch. I remembered one particular night playing for my high school team when I had eight rebounds in a game. That was a big night for me. It occurred to me that if I were a player today, some of that night’s footage would be on my highlight reel. It sounds like most young athletes looking to play in college or on a travel team have a highlight reel now.
My Personal Picks
It made me think about what a highlight reel of my life might look like. Not so much those events like getting married or the births of our children—which are huge—but more about me and things I did personally. Things I did personally that I thought were pretty good. That could of course, include getting married, and babies being born. I did have something to do with those.
One personal highlight was definitely the night I found out that a book I wrote was selected by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. I read that announcement online about eleven at night in my home office and literally jumped up from my desk pumping my fist and yelling, “Yes!” Another highlight was probably when I managed to talk my way into a contract teaching overseas in Scotland when I was told the job was already filled. These were great, satisfying personal achievements.
God’s Picks
But then it occurred to me, that if God was my highlight reel editor, the moments picked would most probably be different. Maybe I would see my wife and I taking care of my disabled sister half of the year or the way we trusted in God when our daughter was born prematurely. Maybe when I was sick and no doctor could figure it out and I went to our elders for anointing. These are probably more along the lines of His picks.
After all is said and done, we want God to be able to put together a highlight reel for us that will meet his criteria. What are His criteria? Fortunately, it’s in His Word. Here are some good guides:
John 6:29 (NLT) – “This is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the one He has sent.”
John 14:23 (NIV) – “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV) – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Believe! Obey! Love!
We want Him to be able to show that reel and say, as in Matthew 25:23 (NIV) – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
