
As humans, we have an innate desire to belong. Whether in our jobs, our community, or our church, we want to feel like we are a part of something and fit in. Often we alter who we are on the outside to make it easier, but it doesn’t change who we are at the core. Society is consumed with status; it influences how we feel and even infiltrates the church. It’s why so many can become burned out.
Religion tells us that if we only behave the right way, believe the right things, and check all of the boxes, we will belong; but Scripture tells us that’s not true. It’s impossible to earn a seat at the table. There aren’t enough good deeds in the world to make us worthy of a spot. We were never meant to fit into religion; we were called to live in relationship. But when we view relationship based off of what we get out of it instead of what we can give, our motivation is selfish and impure. Our motivation matters more than what we do.
God wants what’s inside of us to match what’s on the outside. Sometimes we don’t even know what that is. We are best at lying to ourselves and must peel back the layers of our heart to discover what truly lies inside.
Journal: What is something you thought you were doing for the right reasons only to discover your motivation was impure?
Have you been trying to earn your place at the table? God has been inviting us all along. The Gospel teaches that we belong regardless of what we do. Our actions are simply the outward evidence of our faith.
Journal: Read James 2:14-20. According to this passage, we demonstrate our faith by what?
And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. —James 2:23-26
Abraham was a heathen and Rahab a harlot, yet both were given a place, not because of what they did but because they believed God’s Word. Long before we behaved and believed, He died for our sins. Our seat was secured at that time.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. —Ephesians 2:8-10
When we place religion in the spot that only relationship can fill, then we never become settled in who we are in Christ. True faith is only birthed out of a place of belonging. It is in this place that we recognize that we can never be good enough, and only He is.
The miracles that took place in the Old Testament were not based off of anyone’s good works. God wants to bless us and do exciting things in our lives. We must trust that we belong to Him and allow Him to move on our behalf.
In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. —Matthew 21:18-19
Fig trees are different than most plants; the fruit typically sprouts before the leaves. This fig tree was presenting itself as something it was not. Like the fig tree, many of us are doing the same. We’re afraid that we’ll be rejected by God if we don’t look and act the part. The truth is, we’re not valuable because of what we do. He just wants us to be real. God sees our mess and still invites us into the process of becoming like Him. We have only to accept.
Journal: After listening to Part 2, “I Belong,” from our series on James, share something you’ve done to try to “earn” your seat at God’s Table and what God has shown you through this message about that.
Activation: Determine this week to live an authentic life, confident in who you are in Christ. Each time you are tempted to try to earn your seat at the Table by acting with selfish motivation, remind yourself that your seat was secured when He died on the cross for your sins.
Prayer: God, one of the things I fear the most in life is being rejected. At times, my desire to belong has compromised my authenticity and my faith. I’ve tried to earn my seat at Your Table, when it was already mine to have. Forgive my selfish motives when I do good. Unite my actions with my heart; make them one and the same. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins so that I may be a part of Your family and begin the process of being more like You. Help me step confidently into Your plan for my life and put my trust in You.