You Don’t Amount To Anything!

August 14, 2025

You Don’t Amount To Anything!

In a typical day, most of the messages coming at us attempt to convince us that we have no real value or no true worth; i.e., we are told in subtle and not so subtle ways that we don’t amount to anything!  We are told we don’t matter, we are making no difference, and we have no purpose. 

It does not matter how many degrees we have earned, how much wisdom we have accumulated, or how much influence our faith has achieved, the world is quick to push us out and hold us back.  Even though we may have accomplished significant things, we can easily end up feeling unappreciated and unloved.  We can feel like we don’t amount to anything.

It is no wonder that depression has reached an epidemic level in our country.  Even the most spiritually mature, intellectually accomplished, and hugely successful people are finding themselves at least occasionally struggling with various expressions of depression, despair, or discouragement as well as disappointment, dejection, or desperation. 

At the root of this darkness is often the feeling of being unappreciated, unnoticed, and unloved.  We feel like we don’t’ amount to anything.  In many ways, the struggle of the outwardly successful is not a new thing. 

The church in first century Corinth was struggling with the lack of love being experienced by those in the church who were seemingly successful and smart and spiritual.  This struggle with an absence of love among those who seemed successful was leading to more and more division, conflict, and arguing in the church.  The same thing can happen in our families. 

The Apostle Paul finally feels things are getting bad enough that he addresses the problem.  In I Corinthians 13:2 the Apostle Paul writes; “And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Even though the Christ-followers in that church had achieved so many good things, they were arguing about everything.  They argued about who should receive Holy Communion first, who was more spiritually gifted, and who was the better pastor.  They argued about what to do about sexual immorality in the church, how to handle lawsuits against other Christians, and what kinds of food were to be avoided.  They argued about dress codes during worship, style of worship, and how to treat guests in worship.

Division, conflict, and arguing is what happens when people who are gifted by the Holy Spirit or do not even know Jesus feel unappreciated and unloved.  When those who feel unappreciated and unloved interact with other people, especially people who also feel unappreciated and unloved, division, conflict, and even violence are the result.  Without love for the Lord, love for other people, and love for self, all the good things we have accomplished don’t amount to anything.

It is not difficult to imagine you know someone who is successful in many ways or is very bright or possesses a deep faith in the Lord God.  At the same time, however, it is painful to watch when your friend struggles with deep feelings of being unappreciated and unloved to the point they live with depression or discouragement or disappointment that leaves them living a life so much less than God dreams for them.

I encourage you to set a time to share a cup of coffee with your friend this week.  Gently remind them that all their spiritual maturity or intellectual accomplishments or huge successes will leave them feeling empty if love is not at the center of their lives as well as at the center of what they are doing.

You might want to share Paul’s words to the church in Corinth.  In I Corinthians 13:2 the Apostle Paul writes; “And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Depression is an expression of anger that is a response to a deep hurt.  However, rather than directing the anger at the person or system that inflicted the hurt, we direct the anger at our self.  The result is a cycle of depression out of which it is often difficult to move.  We convince ourselves we don’t amount to anything.

Pray with your friend.  Pray for your friend.  Share with your friend that knowing the deep, deep love Jesus has for them transforms a life that seems successful to the world into a life that has meaning in a relationship with Jesus.

When your friend shifts from a focus on spiritual, intellectual, or career success to a focus on the love of Jesus for them and their love for other people, they will no longer feel like they don’t amount to anything.  Instead, their heart will be filled with delight in the Lord, a healthy perspective on their accomplishments, and a genuine love for other people.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug