Look for the leader who isn't
concerned about their reputation...
Too many people want to be liked. Too many people want to be thought well of. Too many people want to be seen as clever. Too many value popularity over righteousness.
Thank God, Jesus didn't work in society to secure His reputation; He worked to obey His Father.
"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." (John 7:18 ESV)
In your company, look for people who are ambitious for the company to succeed. They promote the company's ideal, speak the company's message, pursue the company's mission. Look for that person that is ambitious to make the whole organization thrive. It's rare to (1) find a company worth living for like that and (2) find the person worth following a good mission.
This is doubly true of spiritual endeavors.
That's why I love Jesus so much. He came to obey the Father. Jesus did not come to build a personal reputation; He did not come with original designs, desires and ambitions. He came to speak what the Father wanted Him to speak, do what the Father wanted Him to do and make the Father famous in the process.
Too many preacher boys today want to be famous. They want to write books and blogs (I've written a book and have a blog...LOL!...you're reading this on my blog!) and be known far and wide. They want to be known for their thoughts and their sayings. They want to be on the radio (I'm on the radio! LOL!) and they want a website and a podcast and all the trappings of religious success...even moolah.
Now, there are a great many preachers who do not desire to be famous; those are the ones who want Jesus to be famous!
Those are the people to listen to! They say what Jesus says! They say what the Father says! They reveal the work of the Spirit! It's not about them! They want the Body of Christ to flourish, and not just their personal bottom line.
And, you know what? You don't have to be a preacher to care about the words of Jesus. You don't have to be a preacher to have a heart desire to see the Body flourish. Likewise, you don't have to be a preacher to fall into the trap of using religion to promote self.
Whatever level, trade or profession, look for people who want others to flourish. Look for people who are not ambitious for their reputation, but for the success of the whole. In the faith, especially, look for people who desire to make God famous and who care for the Body of Christ.
Might such a person be well known in the process? Yes.
Might such a person be quoted by others? Yes.
Should such a person parlay this "success" into riches and self promotion? No.
Jesus does not need our reputation. He has one. Let's make His name famous and introduce Him to people and let Him worry about both His and our reputations.
The example of Jesus convicts and inspires on so many levels!
Too many people want to be liked. Too many people want to be thought well of. Too many people want to be seen as clever. Too many value popularity over righteousness.
Thank God, Jesus didn't work in society to secure His reputation; He worked to obey His Father.
"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." (John 7:18 ESV)
In your company, look for people who are ambitious for the company to succeed. They promote the company's ideal, speak the company's message, pursue the company's mission. Look for that person that is ambitious to make the whole organization thrive. It's rare to (1) find a company worth living for like that and (2) find the person worth following a good mission.
This is doubly true of spiritual endeavors.
That's why I love Jesus so much. He came to obey the Father. Jesus did not come to build a personal reputation; He did not come with original designs, desires and ambitions. He came to speak what the Father wanted Him to speak, do what the Father wanted Him to do and make the Father famous in the process.
Too many preacher boys today want to be famous. They want to write books and blogs (I've written a book and have a blog...LOL!...you're reading this on my blog!) and be known far and wide. They want to be known for their thoughts and their sayings. They want to be on the radio (I'm on the radio! LOL!) and they want a website and a podcast and all the trappings of religious success...even moolah.
Now, there are a great many preachers who do not desire to be famous; those are the ones who want Jesus to be famous!
Those are the people to listen to! They say what Jesus says! They say what the Father says! They reveal the work of the Spirit! It's not about them! They want the Body of Christ to flourish, and not just their personal bottom line.
And, you know what? You don't have to be a preacher to care about the words of Jesus. You don't have to be a preacher to have a heart desire to see the Body flourish. Likewise, you don't have to be a preacher to fall into the trap of using religion to promote self.
Whatever level, trade or profession, look for people who want others to flourish. Look for people who are not ambitious for their reputation, but for the success of the whole. In the faith, especially, look for people who desire to make God famous and who care for the Body of Christ.
Might such a person be well known in the process? Yes.
Might such a person be quoted by others? Yes.
Should such a person parlay this "success" into riches and self promotion? No.
Jesus does not need our reputation. He has one. Let's make His name famous and introduce Him to people and let Him worry about both His and our reputations.
The example of Jesus convicts and inspires on so many levels!
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