Are You Essential?
- Kingdom Kulture
- Oct 30
- 6 min read
In the year 2020, a majority of the people on the planet were forced to shelter in place. I had no idea what this meant. It seemed as though some government had created a virus and now all of us were being punished because of it. In many countries and states, residents were forced inside of their homes and under a strict curfew. The only people who could leave their homes without being interrogated in most cases were essential workers.
At the time, I was in Florida training hard for a potential tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles after having breakfast with one of their coaches. I would wake up each day and head to the field, training alongside Nick and Joey Bosa. The Bosa brothers were both worth upwards of 50 million dollars each and very famous.
Despite this, during the pandemic no one really seemed to care about athletes. The NFL and NBA viewership decreased significantly. It appears that when the fear of living or dying paralysed the world, no one cared about professional sports or being entertained, but rather simply surviving.
Statistics showed that the global box office was estimated to have a loss of 5 billion dollars. Most countries closed their movie theatres and many others places experienced record low attendance. Consequently, I began to ponder what truly mattered in a time of crisis. Apparently, no one cares about entertainment in a crisis. For the first time, the world got to see which people mattered the most as well as the careers that deserve the most respect from us.
Prior to Covid-19, one of the last times America was struck with fear on a scale of similar magnitude was during 9/11. In the wake of this event, every commercial airline closed for two days with only one plane being permitted flight access across the country. That plane didn't carry a team of doctors nor a team of lawyers but rather brought a message of Hope; A message that President George W. Bush deemed essential for the hearts and lives of those around the nation. Billy Graham received a phone call from the White House requesting him to uplift the nation with vital words of hope and encouragement.
What I've noticed is that when our nation's back is against the wall, we do not consider who is the best or worst at shooting or catching a ball. We turn to those few men and women who are the most qualified to be the ones we call.
This led me to an interesting question: Am I living a life that is essential to the human race? Or would Bill Gates consider me to also be vaccine-worthy? Am I living to make a difference or living to make a living no matter what difference it makes?
As followers of Jesus, our work is the most important. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven, tasked with influencing earth with the culture and identity of Heaven.
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 AMPC
We see that hospitals are overcrowded due to the overwhelming amount of stress the general population is experiencing. Stress is one of the leading causes of all disease and sickness. Therefore, we consider doctors to be essential workers because they are qualified to offer medicine and advice to alleviate symptoms from the stress of life that appear in our hearts and on our bodies. Hence, how much more important are the followers of Jesus that teach His way of life that can produce a stress free lifestyle?
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will [a]ease and relieve and [b]refresh [c]your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ([d]relief and ease and refreshment and [e]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, [f]good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:28-30 AMPC
If the world perceives doctors and police as essential, how much more important are those who spread the good news of the Gospel that has the ability to change one's health and behaviour?
15 And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!] Romans 10:15 AMPC
A thought arises. Would doctors and police be essential in heaven? It may sound silly, but we must remember that Jesus prayed for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This means that our job includes bringing justice to those who are oppressed and bringing life to those who are spiritually dead and he even told his disciples to go and prey for those who are sick.
9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 AMPC
Constantly in the Bible, we see men and women of God in adverse situations showing no signs of panic or despair. We see Paul in prison not worrying but rather worshipping and encouraging others.
24 He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened. Acts 16: 24-26 AMPC
We even see Jesus Himself sleeping on a boat that others say was likely to sink.
23 And after He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And [a]suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping. 25 And they went and awakened Him, saying, Lord, rescue and preserve us! We are perishing! 26 And He said to them, Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm ([b]a perfect peaceableness). Matthew 8:23-26 AMPC
However, we cannot ignore the full surrender of one's life and plans that is required to obtain this level of stress free living. It is not until we give God everything that the stress of everything is removed off of us. Not just in a matter of speech but in action priortizing His will over our own each day. My dad always used to say, "Anything worth having isn't easy, and anything easy isn't worth having."
12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2 AMPC
With full dedication and surrender, we can become essential workers for God's Kingdom, bringing His children back to their rightful home and being a light for those who are trapped and suffocated by darkness.
36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38 AMPC
It is time that we all take a look at our lives and see if we are essential to the community that surrounds us and, perhaps, look even closer to see if we have truly been essential in gathering God's children back home.
Question of the Day: Would God consider you to be an essential worker or essentially worthless?
(hint)
