The world is about recognition and acknowledgement and its sadly normal in Christendom. Profile management, designations and high levels of leadership positions are craved for or held onto dearly. This just doesn’t end here. With social media under our control, we ensure that our greatness is always projected, and our importance is never forgotten. We have twisted the sacred symbols of serving others and feet washing to broadcast our great acts of humility for everyone to see. We are depraved enough to merchandise our love and care.
We are more concerned of convincing people “look, I am one of the good ones… I care… I am doing my part.”. It’s a psychological cushion and symbol of compliance. The tangible difference barely matters. Social acceptance and praise take precedence. If everything we do is for limelight and praise, then we have clearly forgotten the essence of the act in the first place. Jesus had to emphasize this so clearly by stating this, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”. Unfortunately, our desire is more for praise and appreciation here on earth than for a reward from our Father in heaven. People yearn to be celebrated as demigods and technology helps feed this urge to our own destruction. God have mercy!
If we read the Bible closely, it records many heroes who are nameless and let me bring them to your attention. Luke 9:49, “Master we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”. Jesus’ disciple John says this. This incident just mentions “We saw someone”. This nameless person received the teachings of Christ exercised his faith and gifting. Today among the chatter of praises of men, we will not dare to go unnoticed. I understand when you are working in an organization there are expectations that needs to be met, and hence accomplishments need to be documented and reported, but do we exaggerate? During the last supper Jesus talks about His betrayal, trial and death, for a moment an argument broke out as to who should be considered the greatest (Luke 22:34) and Jesus clarifies it in (22:27).
Let me also remind you of the man who offered his room for the last supper. Jesus said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” Matthew 26:18. Mark the word “a certain man”.Jesus did not flaunt about His connections. People did at His bidding and gave everything for Him. Like the person who gave the colt for Jesus’ triumphant entry Luke 19:33-34. Sometimes such incidents are misinterpreted to motivate people to keep giving but losing the essence of the bigger picture.
Jesus qualifiers for greatness was servant leadership and humility. Matthew 25:21 says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! With Jesus our Master your only accolade will be as a servant, irrespective of your accolades you receive here on earth, and that’s the greatest accolade you can receive by far.
In Christian mission world today, you will notice many people in the mission field take risks to forward the gospel, some probably never recognized. These are the nameless heroes in ground zero who God is recognizing, not the ones who use people for convenience and take all the credit for what is happening. Let us understand that our identity is in Christ Jesus. The authenticity, transparency and faithfulness are the qualities that impress God. Proverbs 20:6, aptly states, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
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