I read something this morning in 2 Timothy 4 that ran me straight in to a brick wall.
"This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause!..." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (The Message)
If you're a leader does that hit you where it counts?
I want to focus on the last part of that passage during this post. Paul is describing his life and says that through it all the only thing he has left to hear are God's compliments.
"Wait a second Paul. You mean to tell me that's it? Nobody is going to recognize you here on Earth? You won't be asked to speak at any conferences? You won't get walked up to after service and told what a great job you did? You won't be featured in a magazine interview? Man, you must not be that great."
We all know that is absolutely not true. Many believe Paul was the most influential and world changing leader of the Christian faith. We still read from and about him today.
So why do we live differently than he did? I believe that in this passage he is describing one of his greatest personality traits. He could care less if people complimented his work, all he cared about was God's opinion.
We as leaders tend to look past God's opinion and seek the opinions of others way too often. We aren't working for other people. We want the awards, compliments, and privileges of being great in the eyes of other people, but does what they say really define us as great? NO! It means that we are great at fooling people into thinking we are important. God's message is important, His purpose is what makes us great.
If we are looking for approval we need to look to God. He defines our greatness. He tells us when and where we need to be. His compliments, encouragement, and invitations to greatness are the only ones that last beyond this world.
We need to stop viewing ourselves through the filters of others and instead be anticipating "God's applause".
Who Do You Work For?
-Shane
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2 comments:
Thanks for posting this. It was a bit of a reality check for myself. Makes me rethink the way that I make decisions.
Thanks for reading. It's sometimes weird to think that what other people say really doesn't matter, but it can be a comforting thought as well.
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