The Unseen Spotlight
A Humble Beginning
I still remember the day I was asked to speak to a small church youth group in West Texas. It was a modest gathering of about a dozen kids huddled around a campfire. I was new to my faith journey, still discovering the power of my beliefs. As I shared my story, I was surprised to find that they actually listened! One of them even approached me afterward, saying something like, “That really moved me, Max.” In that moment, I felt a sense of validation, and my feet began to shift toward the spotlight.
The Danger of Seeking Applause
However, not everyone is drawn to the limelight. Some of you may identify with John the Baptist, who said, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30, NLT). If that’s you, God bless you! You might want to pray for the rest of us who struggle with seeking applause. We’ve all been guilty of dropping names, singing loudly, dressing up to impress, and quoting authors we’ve never read. Satan loves to whisper one question in our ears: “What are people thinking of you?” But what they think of us doesn’t matter. What matters is what they think of God.
God’s Glory Alone
The Bible reminds us that God will not share his glory with anyone else (Isaiah 42:8). When we start to crave the spotlight, we need to remember that we’re just one link in a chain – an unimportant link at that. God has used all sorts of unexpected messengers throughout history: a donkey to speak to Balaam, a staff-turned-snake to stir Pharaoh, stubborn oxen to teach about reverence, and even a big fish to teach about reluctant preachers. The truth is, God doesn’t need us to do his work. We’re simply ambassadors by his kindness, not by our own cleverness.
The Paradox of Humility
So how can we strive to be humble without becoming prideful of our humility? It’s a delicate balance, but one that’s essential for effective ministry. Our message is about Someone else, not about us. When we deflect applause and focus on God, we honor him and avoid the trap of seeking validation from others.
A Final Thought
As we navigate the complexities of ministry and life, let’s remember that it’s not about us. It’s about the One who deserves all the glory. May we seek to humble ourselves, not to gain recognition, but to lift up the name of God.
Leave a Reply