Stop Trying To be Famous!

What is the motivation for why you do what you do? Ephesian 1:18 The Apostle Paul wrote, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling..."  As a young man I loved traveling, speaking in churches and conferences.  I enjoyed meeting new people, going new places, and worked hard to be a good speaker with a prophetic edge.  It was great to witness so many people come to Christ, get baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit.  It was always amazing to pray for people and watch God heal them and perform miracles right before their eyes, my eyes and those who were in the meetings.  But what motivation did God have in mind when He confirmed the word he put in my heart to give people?  Did He do so I could become a major, internationally known prophetic ministry?  Did he want to make me a household name in the religious world?  I don’t think so.  Candidly, I just wanted people to experience the “grace of God” and “presence Of God” in the similar manner to the way God worked in my life.  I was taught by those who mentored me some very important principles to live by.

Here’s a very important one, in a time when everyone is working so hard to get noticed.  Jesus said, "Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you.  So when you give to the needy, don't announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.”   (Matthew 6:1-4)  By contrast, Jesus (Matthew 5:16) taught in the  beatitudes to let their light shine before people.  Here Jesus is stating that if the motive of doing something good is to be noticed by people, then don't do that. Don't boast about how "good" you are before people. There is nothing wrong with doing good works that will be seen before people, after all, we live among unbelievers. However, when you do good things, don't do them for the purpose of drawing attention to how "good" you are or trying to impress the communities that you serve.

Secondly, in Matthew 23:3, 5 Jesus is addresses the crowds and points out to them that the  Scribes and Pharisees did their deeds in order to be noticed and admired. Jesus condemned this their motivation. People are supposed to notice your good works because your good character permeates them, not because of your attempt to have them see how "good" and "great" you are. The former is humility. The latter is self-centeredness and just trying to grab attention and praise from all the wrong. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “make it your ambition to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living.” (I Thessalonians 4:11) As Christians our lives are not to draw attention to ourselves but to bring attention and honor to Christ in our manner of living. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, “So let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Notice that the purpose of others seeing your good works is for “the others” to be moved to glorify God - not you!  Striving to become that “Next Christian Superstar” is called self-ambition. What does the bible say about this?  James 3:16 says, “ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”  The apostle explains to us that the fruit of selfish-ambition is “disorder” and “every evil practice.”  That evidence is everywhere in plain sight in our time. Why? Because everyone wants to be famous - instead of making Jesus famous.  

One of my favorite bible passages comes from the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 2:19 he wrote, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”  Here is a woman who could have gone out and started a major ministry.  Here is one of the most famous women of faith of all time who could have reached for the heights of fame.  But, no, Mary choose to treasure all the things she witnessed and bore testimony too and kept it to herself until Luke came to interview her about it.  Years and years she just marveled the story, treasured the it in her heart and pondered what she experienced and saw.  If there is example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus is to follow the example of Mary.  Instead of trying to become that next great Christian who runs out and writes the next big story to become famous; maybe we should just treasure up the things the Lord does in ou lives and just ponder it a while.  Why sell yourself for some cheap fame and instant gratification when you can have rewards for all eternity to celebrate?  Do your works for the right reason!