What's Your Claim To Fame?

"Today's Devotion" For August 9, 2006

Read: Mark 9:33-37; I Corinthians 13

WHAT'S YOUR CLAIM TO FAME?

"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:11, 12)

Americans are enamored with fame. This past weekend saw the latest induction of the current class for the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. For the most part the inductees were acknowledged for their prowess on the football field or in support of the game. Similar events occur almost every year for baseball (Cooperstown), basketball (Springfield, MA), soccer, country music, tennis, college football, rock and roll, inventors, and a host of other skills, talents, abilities, and interests (even including WWE wrestling "superstars"). We set up memorials to great events, great people, great sacrifices, and a whole lot of other "greats" in our culture. Notably, as I have observed over my lifetime, the people elected to these "halls of fame" aren't generally elected because of their humility, their love for others, or their civic activities. They are elected because they were prominent in their sport or field of endeavor, regarded as the "elite of the elite," and their names are synonymous with the activity in which they engaged.

Human nature strives for recognition. Even the most "Casper Milquetoast" kind of person wants to be acknowledged and recognized. Nothing motivates a "wall flower" at a dance more than being asked to step away from the safety of the wall and the periphery of the event and become a part of the action and energy of the party or event. Yet, all our craving for recognition, even fame, means nothing if all the recognition and acknowledgement only serve to place us above others and inure us to the needs and dignity of others. It's not so hard to understand that "fame" can go to one's head - we've seen it over and over again, perhaps even in our own lives - and being the people of God becomes inconsequential to our "success."

Jesus warns His disciples of this when He points out the inconsistencies of the scribes and Pharisees, the leaders of Israel, who placed all sorts of requirements on others, but didn't apply them to themselves. Their outward appearance and behavior set them up as being better than everyone else - more holy, more spiritual, more obedient to God. Yet they had forgotten that God sees the condition of the heart and isn't concerned with outward appearances. Their sense of self-importance took precedence over being compassionate, caring, and loving toward others. They were more concerned with how others saw them than with how God saw them.

It's trap we can easily fall into ourselves. While God may allow us to accomplish great things for the sake of others and in His name, it's always important to remember that all that we are and have comes from Him. Above all He has made us His very own children, washing us clean from our sins in the blood of Christ, and assuring us of His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in all of our living. We have the sure and certain hope of heaven, not because of what we've done, but because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins on the Cross. The saving faith we need to receive those blessings from God is solely and only His gift to us - unearned and undeserved.

St. Paul reminds us that in Christ our thinking, feeling, and being is completely different from the world's way of thinking. While it's a great thing to be acknowledged for one's success in a sport or a field of endeavor, if that's all people see when they look at us, it's hardly a claim to fame of any consequence. If people don't see Jesus in us, don't hear about Jesus through our words and actions, and they don't even know we are His redeemed children, then all the "fame" in the world isn't going to cut it. When Paul writes the words of that great chapter on "love" - "agape" - in I Corinthians 13, he not only reminds of this truth, but points us finally to the ultimate "fame" of God's people - self-sacrificing "agape" for others. It's a love that only comes from God and can only come from us as God works in and through us in the lives of others. That's the Christian disciple's claim to fame - loving others in Jesus' name and sharing the Good News of salvation in Him with everyone.

Prayer: Father, it's not too very difficult for me to get my priorities confused when it comes to my service to You and others in Your name and my own need for recognition and acceptance. My sinful human nature leads me to want to be acknowledged and recognized for what I do. My push to be successful often fails to truly define what meaning of "success" is pleasing to You. Forgive me for seeking my "claim to fame" in all the wrong places. Fill me with the power of Your Word and Spirit that I might walk humbly before You, acknowledging that all I am and have are gifts of Your grace and to be used to Your glory and the blessings of others in Your name. Let my life be a constant testimony to Your greatness, Father, and Your love and forgiveness for the whole world in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.