by Shannon Steuerwald

So much of life these days is about what we can get and not what we can give.  Even in the name of ministry, we like to think about how much ministry we can do, as opposed to how much we can give.  In 2001, I attended an administrators’ conference at which one of my heroes Dr. Ron Allen shared simple biblical truths that made me do some soul searching.  I had just recently said yes to an administrative position in our Christian school, and I felt inadequate and overwhelmed.  Dr. Allen mentioned many things during that conference that made me think about why we do what we do in our school.  One phrase that he mentioned touched my own personal life and made me ponder the thoughts and intents of my heart: “It’s not about them; it’s about Jesus Christ in them.” This simple quote referencing the students in our Christian school made me think about the other areas in my life too.

• It’s not about my children; it’s about Jesus Christ in my children.
• It’s not about me, it’s about Jesus Christ in me.
• It’s not about my marriage; it’s about Jesus Christ in my marriage.
• It’s not about my Sunday school children; it’s about Jesus Christ in those children.
• It’s not about the women in my Bible study; it’s about Jesus Christ in those ladies.
• It’s not about my ministry; it’s about Jesus Christ in ministry.
• It’s not about my education; it’s about Jesus Christ in my learning.
• It’s not about my reputation; it’s about Jesus Christ in my reputation.
• It’s not about my home; it’s about Jesus Christ in my home.
• It’s not about my church; it’s about Jesus Christ in my church.

After the conference, I expanded the quote and made it the theme of our school year.  Several times a week I would begin the quote and the students would finish it.  As a student body, we discussed what it means to say, “It’s about Jesus.”  We made practical application to our lives and our school. I wanted the students that year to understand the importance of living in Jesus Christ day by day.  Our school expanded Dr. Allen’s quote to say, “It’s not about me; it’s about Jesus Christ in me.  It’s not about you; it’s about Jesus Christ in you.  It’s not about us; it’s about Jesus Christ in us.”  Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Am I really living Christ in my life, or is my life more about me and what I get?

As ladies, our roles can often get jumbled.  At any given moment we are  homemakers, wives, mothers, carpool drivers,  teachers,  family calendar directors,  financial stewards, church members, and women’s ministry coordinators.  We find ourselves asking, “Why am I really doing this?  What is the purpose of this?  Am I really helping?”  We struggle not only with purpose during those busy, overwhelming days but also with pride.  We find ourselves saying, “I have to do this because I am the coordinator.  It’s my job to make sure we have ladies’ Bible studies because I am the pastor’s wife.  Of course we need to have quarterly ladies’ events since the other church in town does.  My children need to be this involved because we have a reputation to uphold, and their academic success depends on this involvement.”  These statements are myths in ministry. Remembering Philippians 1:21 began to change my outlook on life.  I found biblical perspective and direction in my life and ministry.  Why do I live?  Why do I do ministry?  Why am I here?  Philippians 1:21 answers these questions.

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME; IT’S ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN ME.  My life will have been lived in vain if not for Jesus Christ.  Galatians 2:20 says that we are to be crucified with Christ so we can live in Christ.  When we die to self, we live unto God.  It’s not about my life because my life is not my own.  When I accepted Christ as my Savior, the Holy Spirit came to reside in my life so that I am now a temple of God’s.  It isn’t about me.  It isn’t about what I accomplish.  It isn’t about my wants and desires.  It’s all about Jesus Christ in me.  Colossians 1:29 says, “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU; IT’S ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN YOU.  Paul in Philippians 2:4 says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”  Verses 13-15 continue with this same selflessness:  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Do all things without murmurings and disputings.  That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”  Life isn’t about you either.  I can look at my students and at the ladies in my Sunday school class or Bible study and tell them that life isn’t about them; rather, it’s about Jesus Christ in them.  It’s not about me, and it’s not about you.  Life will be a waste of many days if you and I can’t get our minds off ourselves and onto what really matters.  We need each other working together toward one goal and one spirit if ever we want to make a difference (Philippians 2:2).  It’s not about me and it’s not about you; it’s about Jesus Christ.

It only makes sense then to conclude as well that IT ISN’T ABOUT US; IT’S ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN US.  In 1 Corinthians 12:14, Paul speaks of the need for us to be one body:  “For the body is not one member, but many.”  We are not just a group of people; we are the “body of Christ” (verse 27).  We can apply this to our schools, church ministries, and every day living.  It isn’t about our staff; it’s about Jesus Christ in our staff.  It’s not about our teaching; it’s about Jesus Christ in our teaching.  It’s not about our parenting; it’s about Jesus Christ in our parenting.  It’s not about our serving; it’s about Jesus Christ in our serving.  Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches:  he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.” And Matthew 19:26b completes the circle by declaring, “but with God all things are possible.”

Ladies, let me encourage you to find purpose in the various roles in which God places you.  He wants to fulfill all the good pleasures of His will in your life and in my life.  For God to do a work in and through my life, Christ needs to be my life.  It’s not about me, it’s not about you, and it’s not about us.  Ministry will happen, not because of you or me, but because of Christ.