I read an article from Keith Green, who was a Christian Musician, talking about when he did get well known in the Christian Music scene there were tons of fans who ask how they could get started in their own Music Ministry. But they didn't ask him how to become a missionary or a street preacher. My first thought was they're asking him this because he was a Big Christian Music star, and not a missionary, not a street preacher. He might have done that work too; I don't know I just know him for his music. But his real point was why are Americans so star struck, why do we want the glory? Why do we want to put us in the forefront and not Jesus? Why does it matter to us to be so well known? And he goes to say while we are praising these Christian Artists, we should really be praising their purpose in their music, which is worshiping God.
His answer to this question was always the same, which is, and I'm paraphrasing here, are you willing to give up your music, and your life basically to follow Jesus, throughout this ministry? Which is the same question that Jesus asked the Disciples. Are they willing to give up their old life and follow Jesus no matter what the future will bring us? He said that they would always answer, Yes. But he would doubt that they knew the cost of doing this, and that's because we don't know this at all really. We don't know where God will take us, but we trust that where he is taking us is good. Of course it is good; we just don't know the future of our life.
Sure we all want to be known, but does it really make our lives any better to be famous? I don't think it does and there's definitely proof in that if you watch entertainment news. What are we really seeking here? Fame and fortune for ourselves or fame and fortune for God's kingdom? Obivisiously God has chosen some people to be popular in the world; I learned this in high school. With all that popularity none of it really matters if it's not for God's glory. That people who are not popular could actually be doing more meaningful work, and of course it can the other way around too, but it really doesn't matter how well known you are in this world, just that you're serving God.
From the time that I was 11 I have wanted to be in a band, and I have been in some, but I never really wanted to be famous. Sure I still want to record cd's and all that other stuff, but I really just want to write music and have it be heard by others. It's something that simple that can become something so complex. The complex part is really the business part. You don't have to make money at what you do in life, but I bet it would be nice to be able to do what you want for money, but if it's not for God then it's meaningless. It's just you and we all know that we don't walk alone in our Christian Walk. We need to include God in what we do, no matter how big we can get through our work, we must remember who made this possible, God. And we should teach others in hopes that they can feel the same Love that we have that comes from God.
We watch these stars and I noticed today that they really aren't mythed by their fame; it's just their life now. It's like they've gotten used to it. And sure it has changed them, but once they get over that it's just life for them. That their overwhelming sense because of their achievements have fallen flat and that's it's the past for them. It’s just part of their life now and it doesn't really matter that they're famous anymore.
So it really doesn't matter if you’re somebody or a nobody in this life, just as along you are serving God in what you are doing.
I was thinking about why so many of us want to be in the spot light. I believe people have such a desire (God-given desire) to have a purpose and meaning for their life, that even as a believer, that true purpose and meaning of life can be distorted when focus is on ourselves. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Jared, very thought provoking.