Article October 1, 2012 Issue

Every child of God is useful

Valerie Minard

In the movie Hugo there is a scene where the main character, a poor boy fighting for survival and self-worth, shares with a friend what gives him hope and comfort. As he looks out on a cityscape filled with buildings and shiny lights, he says that it reminds him of one big machine with many moving parts. He reasons from this metaphor that since an intelligently designed machine has no extraneous parts or leftovers, each piece must have a place, function, and purpose. Likewise, he too, as part of this “machine,” must be of use and have a purpose.

This scene made me think of a spiritual fact: There are no leftovers or extraneous parts in God’s universe. Everything God, divine Love, made is useful, valued, and a necessary part of His creation. In the book of Genesis it says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (1:27, 28).

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines fruitful as “abundantly productive.” God not only makes His beloved sons and daughters productive—acting up to their infinite potential and greatest capability—but they are so fruitful that they are able to give back and help others. His children live way beyond mere survival mode. As it says in a line from Hymn 139 in the Christian Science Hymnal, “Give of your heart’s rich overflow” (Minny M. H. Ayers). In this sense, God’s children are able to replenish and subdue the earth. In other words, God multiplies our productivity to the point that it’s overflowing.