A Bishop told the story of a little boy swimming in a lake when he found himself going under. He could swim no farther. He was struggling for his life. Going down for the third time, he felt the arm of a strong man lifting him. The man had seen the boy’s plight and swum out to save him. After taking him safely to the shore and making sure he was O.K., the man was about to leave. The boy said, “Thank you for saving my life.” The man replied, “You’re welcome, son. See to it that you are worth saving.” The boy was the bishop telling the story. He never forgot that man who didn’t even leave his name. And he posed a good question. Am I worth saving. Is God getting any return on the investment He has made?

Ephesians 4:1-4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called–

What this passage literally says is to “walk worthy of your calling.” The word for worthiness has the meaning of being able to carry the weight, the responsibility you have been given. The passage is encouraging you to respond appropriately, to live as though you were deserving of the honor you have received. You are to be God’s people. This is not just a title or an outward distinction, but one that has practical form and bears suitable fruit in your day to day living.

If you have experienced God’s grace in your heart, that will show itself by true goodness in your life. To live a life worthy of your calling means you know and believe and understand what God has done for you in Jesus. You will not conceal your religion. You won’t be ashamed of it or disavow it. Those who live worthy of their calling are those who state it loudly: “I belong to Jesus.” They glory in this proclamation. They rejoice in it. They don’t want to dishonor their lives by unworthy conduct. Instead, they want their lives to be brightened and elevated by their relationship to Jesus.

The worthiness spoken of by Paul in our text has nothing to do with merit, but response. We should walk worthy of the calling we have received, be a distinct people, set apart. It is not the cause for salvation, but the response to having been called to salvation. How do you do this? How do you live a life worthy of your calling? He give a brief checklist:

• humble – don’t think too highly of yourself. Remember that you could not save yourself.
• gentle – think of how easily you let harsh words fly at others when you get upset. That is not the life worthy of your calling. Those who strive to live according to God’s design will follow the model of Jesus: His speech and actions and demeanor.
• patient – willing to wait. Think of how patient our heavenly Father is with each of us even though we continue to disappoint Him.
• forbearing (put up with each other) in love – always a hard one.
• united in peace – an end to petty squabbling.

How many of you like to be described as worthless? If you don’t want to be known that way, don’t live that way! Live a life worthy of your calling, the kind of life someone should live in response to the salvation God has given you in Christ. God’s view of worthiness is different from the worlds’ description.

• A poet can take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it and make it worth a fortune – that’s genius.
• Elon Musk could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions – that’s capital.
• A mechanic can take a few dollars worth of material and make it a working machine – that’s skill.
• An artist could take an inexpensive piece of canvas and make it worth thousands by painting a picture – that’s art.
• God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity – that’s salvation.

God has done that for you in Christ. You know about it. He has given you worth. He wants you to respond with a life led for him, a life worthy of your calling.