It’s Not About Me
What do emcees, judges, debate moderators, and preachers all have in common? They’re in the public eye. They direct whatever goes on in their venue. They have a lot of authority to make sure things go well. But THEY ARE NOT THE STAR OF THE SHOW. You might call each one a “pointer.” What do pointers do? Pointers point. Emcees point to guests, performers, award recipients and others. Judges point to the law and enforce it. Debate moderators point to the debaters and see that they are treated equally with respect to time and difficulty of questions. The preacher’s job is to point his listeners to Jesus Christ. They may all have charisma and audiences like them. When you’re in the public eye, the bigger the audience the bigger the temptation to think “it’s about me, I’m the star here.” Watch out pride is lurking to make you fall. (Prov. 16:18)
We’re told to “love God and love your neighbor.” (Matt. 22:37,39) Sometimes when looking to define something, it’s helpful to see what it is not. Paul has a list of “love is nots,” “not jealous, does not brag, not arrogant, doesn’t act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, not provoked…” (1 Cor. 13:4,5) He goes on in the next two verses with the “dos.” “…rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
In the secular world…
we see example after example of how not to act…in public or any time. You can hardly blame someone in a position of leadership for missing the mark of the “is nots” when they are constantly bombarded by “the other side.” Consider Moses after leaving Egypt. We’re told that “the people” (about two million or more) quarreled with him over leading them to a place without water. But remember, Moses was following God in the cloud and pillar of fire. So the Israelites were really grumbling against God. There’s an interesting parenthetical comment in Numbers 12:3, “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.”
Most of us are drawn to humility as well as kindness and justice displayed in others. But because we’re prone to put ourselves first, we struggle to attain these qualities in ourselves. Did you know we’re commanded to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?” Micah tells us “the Lord requires it of you.” (Micah 6:8)
Could it be…
we seek the limelight because we’re insecure with our lot in life and we’re jealous of those who seem to have it all? Or maybe we’re angry because we’ve busted our hump and not gotten the recognition we think we deserve. Whatever the cause of our dissatisfaction, we need to own it then discard it because it shows that our trust is in ourselves and not in God who doesn’t allow anything to come our way that doesn’t fit His plan for us. Paul tells us that he “learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…humble means or prosperity…being filled or going hungry…having abundance or suffering need.” (Phil. 4:11,12) And in the very next verse he says, “I can do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, our job is simply to glorify Him. We’re told, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) Sometimes God gets glory when He abundantly blesses us with material things because He knows we can handle it correctly and not take credit for it. Other times, He gets glory when we stand firm against the pummeling schemes of the devil while the world watches our faithfulness. Whatever means whatever.
If we can learn…
and practice keeping the Lord Jesus as the star of the show instead of ourselves, our lives will be filled with peace and contentment, the world will see Christianity as it should look, and we can expect to hear “well done good and faithful servant” when we see Jesus face to face. If you’re not in the “whatever you do” camp or think you are but aren’t sure, visit the “Steps to Salvation” tab on the menu bar to get God’s heart on the matter. Thanks for visiting.