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1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
19 For [gar] what [tis] is our [hemon] hope, [elpis] or [e] joy, [chara] or [e] crown [stephanos] of rejoicing [kauchesis]? [e] Are not [ouchi] even [kai] ye [humeis] in the presence [emprosthen] of our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] at [en] his [autos] coming [parousia]?
20 For [gar] ye [humeis] are [este] our [hemon] glory [doxa] and [kai] joy. [chara] KJV-Interlinear
19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. NASB
There are two types of glory and fulfillment in life with respect to helping others. There is the self satisfaction you get from your temporal life activities, and there is the self satisfaction you get from your spiritual activities.
In the world most everyone dreams of having an impact on history or on society in some fashion. You can write the greatest book ever, you can act in the greatest movie or stage play ever, or you can be the greatest entertainer ever, or you can be the greatest political or social leader ever, and so forth.
But how many of us will actually have that opportunity? Very few. Probably less than one percent of one percent of one percent (a really small number), will ever attain any notoriety in life. And as many (or as few) will ever have the opportunity to affect the lives of other people, in this temporal world.
In other words, unless you have great talent or great intellect, or something that makes you standout, your chances are next to if not below, nothing.
But then, the great books, the great plays, the great movies, only last for a generation or two and then they fade into some kind of obscurity. What were the great books of the seventh century, or the great plays of the tenth century? Surely there must have been some.
Our memories reach back only a few decades, and perhaps into the last century for great orchestra arrangements, but not much beyond that.
You can have phenomenal talent and become the focus of media attention in this life, but it will not last long. A few decades maybe, but then what will be the long term benefit of your effort? Virtually none.
Paul here points out to us that his ministry has brought him great joy and great hope, not because he has had the opportunity to write letters, but that the people who read them, will benefit spiritually and that benefit will last them forever, and with great blessing.
And that is the impact that is available to everyone, though most do not recognize it.
You do not have the be physically or artistically or mentally talented to have an impact on others, you only have to be positive toward God, Christ, doctrine, and your spiritual life and therefore obedient to Gods mandates for pursuing and functioning in your spiritual life.
One simply spoken word can impact a persons life forever. One simple act of support can impact the lives of many thousands, forever.
You can write books that will entertain, but doctrine gives everyone an opportunity to possess a complete life forever. And that impact goes beyond the infinite.
You do not have to write studies. You do not have to lead studies. You do not have to lecture to crowds. You need only participate in the spiritual functions of life as God has made provision for you.
Your first objective is to advance and grow in your spiritual life. Your second objective, simultaneous with your growth, is your function in life for helping others, for supporting doctrine, for maintaining a positive attitude in doctrine when someone challenges, or questions, or comments about God or life.
To help one person, results in a potentially infinite consequence.
And, just as a famous author will never know the readers of his or her book, so too, any help you do in doctrine, will more than likely benefit others of whom you will never meet or even know about.
But one day, we will all be in heaven, and there, we will be able to meet those of whom we have had an impact on their life, and when you realize that your effect in their life (or lives) has brought them from the Lake of Fire, or brought them to blessings of maturity, of which are infinite blessings whose value is beyond calculation, then your sense of fulfillment and joy will overwhelm you.
That is something that you will only experience then. As for now, you can have only faith in that whatever you do toward helping others, will be directed by God for the greatest benefit and impact on the their lives.
That then is a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that no book, no movie, no song, no achievement in this life, can match.
