For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake – 2 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV)
I can’t help but recoil when I think about people “preaching themselves”. Sometimes it’s as subtle as preaching one step removed from the Bible: “This is what the Bible says, this is what I did, therefore do as I did.” Other times it’s more obvious as people use their “ministry” to promote themselves–their name up in lights and their face printed on merchandise.
As Christians, we can be deceived into thinking that building our own platform will help us better proclaim the message of Christ. The more well-known you are, the more you can impact people and preach the gospel, right?
I’ve wrestled with this as an author. The goal of my writing is always to help people. But in a world where social media posts and engagement equals more sales, I am torn when I post more frequently and receive more orders, but then feel like I’m manipulating people. Must I build myself a platform in order to help more people?
Multiple times I have taken a break from socials as my mind circles. Inevitably I receive another message from a reader telling me they stayed up all night reading my book and how it changed their perception of dating and helped restore hope for their future. This reminds me that God has entrusted me with a powerful testimony and I must get the message out to people. Maybe building a platform is being a good steward of this message. Maybe it is just part of being an author in today’s society. Round and round I go, unsure and weirded out by the whole process.
Here’s the truth. It’s not about the size of the platform or its effectiveness. It comes back to motive. If your desire is for influence and popularity, then the message you are proclaiming is you. If your earnest desire is that Jesus would be made known, then your ‘success’ won’t be measured by the size of your platform but by how obediently you have done what God has asked you to do. You won’t care if people notice you or not.
Motives can be uncovered by asking yourself: Do I want people to say “You’re so talented, you lead worship so well” or do I want them to say “The presence of God was so strong this morning, God really spoke to me”?
The first is a desire to be seen and recognised, the second is a desire to remain unseen and Jesus be glorified. Popularity and influence may come, but they can fade just as quickly. If we are fixed on the perception of the crowd, we are rocked when their opinions and preferences change (and they will).
The best thing we can do for people is point them to Jesus and get out of the way. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hearts that focus their intention on people encountering Jesus remain steadfast; they are not swayed by popular opinion, likes and dislikes. Their reward is Him alone.
Does this mean we hide our gifts and never let them shine? Of course not! The second part of this verse says that we are to be ‘bondservants’ for Jesus’ sake. The Message puts it like this: ‘All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.’
The word bondservants, in the original Greek, means “to bind”. It is usually translated as “slave” or “servant.” It means that the servant is bound to another person, subject to their will. At times this type of service might be voluntary, in which a person willingly offers their obedience and loyalty. The overarching theme is that the servant serves with a disregard for their own interests.
We are here to serve, under the submission of God, whatever He requires of us. I’m the slave, Jesus is the master. I must only do what He asks me to do, nothing else. This may sound heavy and to be honest a little scary. The thought of offering up my will and desires in place of whatever He wants makes me feel boxed in like I have no choices.
Thankfully the opposite is true. Jesus, our master is kind. We can trust Him. Our best life unfolds as we seek to follow Him. He doesn’t box us in He leads us to wide open spaces. We may have desires in our hearts, but chasing after them won’t bring success. We don’t need to put ourselves forward or build a platform. We don’t need to strive for promotion or appointment. The only thing we need to chase is Jesus then we trust Him with the details.
Becoming a bondservant to Christ and pursuing solely what He asks, brings deep contentment and anchored peace. We don’t need to convince others of our devotion to Christ—that’s preaching you. Let us simply preach Christ.
Reflection:
- God has given you gifts to glorify Him. When you use your gift and go unnoticed how do you feel? If it bothers you, commit to remembering to look to Jesus. Ask Him what He thinks instead of looking to others.
- As you serve keep a check of hidden motives. Are you hoping for a certain outcome? Serving God with our gifts should be an extension of your love for Jesus, not a stepping stone to fulfilling your dreams. Make a decision to trust His sovereignty.
Prayer:
Father, I humbly come before you just as I am. Forgive me when I have tried to build my own platform. If there are places where I have made my serving about me, forgive me and help me to see with fresh eyes. love you Lord and I want my life to reflect your glory. It’s your approval only that I desire. Help me to detach from the opinions of others and find rest in your gaze alone.
Amen.
Further Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 1:13-18 Christ is not divided, it doesn’t matter who is baptising who but rather let us focus on the Gospel of Jesus
- 1 Corinthians 9:18-19 When I preach the gospel, may I not abuse my authority… I have made myself a servant to all
- 2 Corinth 6:11-13 We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively
Songs