Before you make that decision, ask this question...

Some years ago, I was chatting to Peter Lewis, the former pastor of Cornerstone Church in Nottingham. We were having coffee at half-time in a meeting for pastors, and I was wondering how he had stayed so long at Cornerstone. I think at that point it was 37 years, but I may be mistaken. And I’ve never forgotten what he said.

Peter told me how every so often he’d pause and ask himself one question (undoubtedly surrounded with prayerful thought and discussion with at least Valerie, his wife). That one question was this: "Where can I be of most use?"

And Peter told me how the answer had always come back the same: "Well you can’t be of any more use than being here... so I thought I’d better stay at Cornerstone."

'Where can I be of most use?'

But what a great question to ask.

And I’ve asked the same of myself over the years after that coffee with Peter. Should we leave this church and move on to another? Where can we be of most use?

Where should we live in retirement? Where can we be of most use?

I’ve been asked to give up doing the livestream on Sunday mornings and help with the children’s work. Where can I be of most use?

I’ve been asked to join the preaching team, but I think that would mean I’d have to stop leading our small group. Where can I be of most use?

The question, "Where can I be of most use?" is simply a great question.

Serving others

It’s a humble question. Life is not all about me but rather, it’s about other people, about helping them, putting them first.

The world around us thinks otherwise though, doesn’t it? If you have money, save it or spend it; use it for yourself.

Not so many people would be thinking how it may be used for the benefit of others.

Unless we’re Christians…

"Where can I be of most use?" is also servant-hearted and Christ-like. We want to serve other people. Jesus served us, profoundly.

We are now in Christ and surely serving others, as people who have been served in the ultimate way, should be a natural thing for us; or, if you like, one of our big drivers, one of our big motivators.

I hope we can all experience a gradually growing desire to delight in serving others.

And finally, when you ask, "Where can I be of most use?" you’ve already made the decision that you want to help others. The question is "Where?" or "How?" can you best do that.

So, if you’ve got a big decision to make – Do I move? Should I go for this job? Should I accept the job I’ve been offered? Should I say "Yes" to the new role at church? – do pause, think, pray, talk to others and at least ask one important question, "Where can I be of most use?" (And thank God for Peter Lewis!)