With how 2020 panned out, I’m assuming everyone wants 2021 is to more impactful – one better than the previous years. The crave for making an impact in life seems to be a natural instinct. But what exactly is impact? When can we say we have made an impact? Is impact measured with a general or personalised scale?
I chatted with a friend, who would like to remain anonymous, about this.
You might learn something from the chat about what making an impact in life really means
A: Hi Tolu
Tee Abraham: Hey
A: Please I want to ask you some questions or rather engage you in a conversation…
Tee Abraham: Alright
Tee Abraham: Go ahead
A: Hehe
A: What is impact?
Tee Abraham: Impact in what sense?
A: Impact as in making impact
Tee Abraham: Ok
Tee Abraham: I think it’s making a notable contribution
A: Hmmmm
Tee Abraham: Yes
Tee Abraham: By notable, not in size or magnitude, but effect
A: So it can be little, yeah?
A: As long as it’s meeting a need?
Tee Abraham: It may seem insignificant to every other person, even to the person doing it, but to the person to whom it’s done, it might mean the whole world.
A: Hmmmm
Tee Abraham: Yes
A: I like that
Tee Abraham: Funny how big things some people do doesn’t move a feather
A: Hehe
Tee Abraham: You give an hungry little boy a bicycle…lol…ok he might sell it to buy food
A: Lol
Tee Abraham: I think majorly, when what is done is relevant to a need.
A: Okay
Tee Abraham: Have you ever been in a situation where all you needed was just someone to sit down and listen to you? That’s all.
The person doesn’t even have to talk or give advice. Someone dumping a million naira on your feet may not help (except the source of concern was financial).
A: WOW
A: Yeah very true .
A: So the person that listens to you has made an impact yeah?
Tee Abraham: Yes, cos that might be equivalent to other obvious “impact” at another time or situation
A: Lol, yeah
A: The reason why I’m asking all these is because I was talking to someone (we were talking about how the world is changing and there’s really no safe profession, everything seems to be fading away, new inventions and all).
A: Then I was like “that’s why I want rapture to take place so we can go to Heaven and forget the worries of these world”
A: Then he was like “No, not yet abeg. He doesn’t want Baba God to ask him what impact he made in his lifetime.”
Tee Abraham: Ohh, I see
A: I was like “I don’t think you have to live so long on earth before you make an impact, as you are like this, you can make an impact.”
Tee Abraham: Very true
A: At some point, I myself wasn’t getting confused about the impact thing cos we continued talking about it.
A: I started feeling like maybe I haven’t done anything in my life until I’m all grown making money and helping the society and all.
A: So I decided to ask someone for clarity and also share with the person so his mentality might probably change.
Tee Abraham: I see
Tee Abraham: Do you know the parable of sheep and goat?
Tee Abraham: The Bible says in Matthew 25:31-40 NKJV
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Tee Abraham: That’s making an impact!
A: Wow
A: Thanks a lot
Tee Abraham: One more thing
Tee Abraham: Heaven will also judge impact based on the grace we have been given.
A: Yeeaaah, I get
A: Makes sense
"Heaven will judge impact based on the grace we have been given." -Tolulope Oludapo Click To TweetTee Abraham: A lot of people want to wait till they have gathered an empire before they can make an impact. Whereas, impact can be made with very small things.
A: I totally get you.
Tee Abraham: Been nice chatting with you.
A: Same here
A: Thanks a lot Tolu!
Tee Abraham: You’re welcome dear.
"A lot of people want to wait till they have gathered an empire before they can make an impact. Whereas, impact can be made with very small things." – Tolulope Oludapo Click To TweetFinal thoughts…
The only act that qualified the prostitute Rehab as an hero with a praiseworthy action in the Bible was hiding the Israelite spies away from the Amorite soldiers on their tail. That is making an impact. From this singular act, Rahab became an ancestress in the royal line from which Jesus came.
The Bible is full of such ordinary everyday acts that caught the attention of heaven. From Ruth leaving her people to follow a widow to her land, to those who sold all they had, land and houses, and brought the proceeds to be shared among the poor.
In addition, Impact can be evaluated based on the talent given to us (so as not to feel comfortable with mediocre activities while we may be called to do great things).
However, it also comes from small unseemly important activities. To cap it all, we should not get too comfortable with making a small impact if we have the capacity to make a greater one.
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Did you enjoy this article? You can also read: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE? – Emmanuel Iren
