Transferring Credits

In some countries, like the States, when students move from one university to another, they are sometimes able to transfer some of their credits or scores to their new university. This can be a maddening process because sometimes some of the credits earned at the first school won’t transfer to the other. It can be very frustrating, to say the least, as the students feel like their scholastic achievements were for nothing.

There’s a similar credit transfer problem that happens in the kingdom of God when it comes to our accomplishments. It can be even more frustrating and maddening because we’re so accustomed to operating according to the world’s standards of measuring success. But it’s something we have to take to heart because it’s the way God works.

The credits of men on earth don’t transfer to the kingdom of God. What I mean is that just because the world says you’re successful doesn’t mean you’ve impressed God one bit.

God really doesn’t care about how much money you’ve earned.

Where you’ve gotten your degree from.

Or what letters make up the title in front of your name.

The things that we think are major accomplishments aren’t to God.

For at least two reasons.

First, it’s kind of hard to brag to a God who spoke the universe into existence. I just can’t see God being blown back by our résumé. Especially when the source of all of our accomplishments is Him. Also, it’s kind of insulting to His grace to think that any amount of achievement could earn the love and favor that has already been achieved for you.

Second, I don’t think God is looking for the same things we are. If you take a cursory look through the Bible, these were the kinds of people and things that stood out to Him:

A young shepherd on the backside of nowhere whose heart was after Him (1 Samuel 16)

The faith of a man who shouldn’t have had any (Luke 7:1–10)

The meager but total generosity of a peasant woman compared to the lavish but incomplete giving of the rich around her (Luke 21:1–4).

I’m not saying you need to downgrade your job. Or make yourself poor. Or that your success and accomplishments can’t be used for God’s glory.

I’m just saying that you shouldn’t assume that you’re at the front of the line to be used for His glory because of them. Besides, in God’s order of things, the front isn’t necessarily where you want to be anyway:

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:16.

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If you are wondering how the Lord looks at you—how He sees you when He looks at your life, what His evaluation is, here are a few factors to consider:

God loves a yielded heart, one who has said yes to Him time and time again, even when you feel incapable or as if you don’t have the strength to go on.

God loves a heart who is willing to follow Him no matter where He leads, even though you often can’t clearly see the path ahead or what the final destination would be.

God loves an unselfish and giving soul, one who puts the needs of others before its own and gives even to its hurt. God loves a humble vessel who has been willing to go through refining fires so that He could make of it even finer gold.

He loves the one who is strong in faith, even though he may feel differently. Your faith has endured the test of time; you’ve stayed true to His calling, to the still, small voice speaking to your heart, to the fundamentals and the foundation principles that He has taught you these many years. He knows that your faith is built on a solid rock and will not be easily tossed to and fro.

When you’re tempted to wonder if your accomplishments have been valuable or whether you have lived your faith well, just remember that God sees your life differently than the world does. God sees the true values of your life that you and others may overlook or that may not be as plainly visible—qualities that make a character that is worthy of admiration, contributions that will live on in the lives of others and will continue to make a difference in the world.