Greatness Is Not Found In Fame!

Many the roads they took, the plans they tried:
But all in vain. Who grasped at earthly fame,
Grasped wind: nay, worse, a serpent grasped, that through
His hand slid smoothly, and was gone; but left
A sting behind which wrought him endless pain. -Pollok

When I read Mark 2:1-2, I was instantly challenged with desires of fame. I stopped reading there, even though the real story of Jesus' healing had yet begun. The story I needed had already begun to unfold before me.

The thoughts of fame came in like an exploding bomb filling my mind. I have suspicion that these thoughts were inserted by the evil one, but it is very possible that down deep I seek that kind of recognition that Jesus got.

Once Jesus got back to Capernaum, the crowds began to gather around Jesus. There were so many people that no one else could even approach the house He was in. He was speaking the word to them. (Mark 2:1-2).

The image of people running to hear and see Jesus sounded so pleasant to me. But I wasn't thinking of this. I wasn't happy that people were running to Jesus. I wasn't thinking this at all. Nor was I thinking of the great words Jesus was speaking to the gathered crowd. Nor was I, at my great shame, thinking at the healing and peace that He would give to the needy people.

These were not my thoughts. My thoughts were totally devilish. I suppose I shared more in common with those attending scribes who were there seeking evidence to accuse Him. No, I was so self-absorbed with my self that I couldn't even see Jesus.

And yet, I was sure as I sat down to read the Word of God, I had intended to learn from Jesus. I sat down because I delighted in God's presence and teaching. I wanted Jesus to teach me. Maybe this was what He desired to teach me.

I'm glad I stopped reading when I did and grabbed hold of the real thoughts polluting my mind. For whether I am guilty of such thoughts or they were a mere plant by another, these thoughts are ones that Jesus dealt with on a regular basis and I needed to deal with them also.

What is wrong with seeking fame? We need to ask, "Why are we seeking fame?" People usually seek fame because they want to feel important. In its worse case, they want to feel more important than others. How many can stop with only the first condition?!

The evil of fame is in its total denial of the real facts. Greatness is not found in how many people gather around to listen to one, but on how much a person can humbly do God's will. Greatness is seeking and doing God's will. As long as we focus on attention for ourselves, our eyes are off the Lord.

We must come to realize that we have nothing but what is given to us. His call and gifts are differently distributed not on who we are but on what He wants to accomplish. The Lord Himself made each one of us. No one is inherently better. We can get better because by His grace we humbly make better decisions, but we are not worth more.

Why is it that we have this compulsion to feel important? Perhaps down deep we harbor ships filled with lies such as, "People like me," "People think I'm smart," or "People think I'm attractive." In our hearts we have a void that craves attention from others. We think that attention makes a person important and better.

Jesus rightly handled the temptation of fame. He was not conscious of Himself and how people liked Him. He did not act phony to gain or maintain a crowd. He no doubt was tempted with such thoughts, but He always refused them. He focused on what God called Him there to accomplish.

He was to carry out His Father's will in His Father's timing in the Father's manner. He would care for people rather than Himself. Just as Mark 12:30-31 says, He would love God first and then man. There was no room there for Him but to serve.

How do we know Jesus didn't think this way? We see in a general way that He was not preoccupied with Himself but more specifically, we see:

-He focused on doing what His Father said at any cost.He loved people.
-He would be willing to turn people and leaders away.
-He told people not to tell others of His miracles.
-He moved from place to place instead of building a personal kingdom.
-He refused to pile up material things to emphasize His importance.

He gave up all the attention, betrayed even by the closest, in order to embrace a cold, rough cross.

No doubt this is an important issue to deal with before one begins the ministry. I wonder how many have ever been challenged to confront this desire for popularity while in training? If the crowd comes first, then one will hardly ever be humble enough to rightly deal with this heart issue. I personally am late on this matter. By God's grace, He pointed it out to me today.

Let me appropriately respond.

-I confess that I often like the attention of others. I also confess that I am often more conscious of myself and people's perception of me than what God wants of me.
-I repent of this desire for fame and ask that the Lord God would come like a great storm and break this wall of pride in my life. I hereby reject the desire to have many people present to please me.
-I only want as many people to hear me speak as my Father desires and with this I will be pleased even if it means I never speak again.
-I will be content with His choice for me from eternity. Nothing can exceed the grace given to me than to be called His child.

I furthermore, ask You My Lord, for the determination to only seek my Father's will and the profit of those around me, whether it be one or ten thousand in number.

Prayer:

Our Father, we thank you for your love and for you many blessings, especially for the precious gift of each other. Help us to show our gratitude by loving each other as you love us. Make us understanding and patient with one another, quick to admit our failings and ask forgiveness, generous in sharing the joy and strength we can give each other. Amen

God bless you!

Donna