One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is how much time and attention I give to ministry work. The question looming over my head is, “Does this honor God?”. I am mindful of the words of Satan in Genesis 3. Eve must have walked by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil every day up to that point and never gave it a second thought. I mean, it was the forbidden tree after all. But the words of the serpent still echo in the hearts of every human being – “You can be like God.”
And if I’m being honest there are times I hear the echo of his words ring in my own heart.
When you think about it, all we do in the spiritual realm is an EITHER – OR. I am EITHER lifting God’s name OR my own. I am EITHER saying yes to the things that honor Him OR the things that honor me. The EITHER – OR is the tension I feel as I write another book, share another post, or speak into a mic. “Does this honor God” is the question I ask myself a lot lately. If the answer is no I have tipped the EITHER – OR scale to my side and I am lifting up my own name.
As I often sit in the mornings with the Lord and reflect on the things that tug at my heart, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 beats to the rhythm of my pulse that is almost audible in the quiet morning. It says, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
This passage reminds me that everything I do in the name of Christ will be tested.
And if I slap Christ’s name on the ministry work I do so that I camouflage my motives of lifting my own name it won’t last anyway. It will not remain. In other words, when I sometimes feel as though I’m spinning my wheels, I probably am. Does this honor God? That question brings me to a screeching halt where the wheels stop spinning and the rhythm of 1 Cor 3:10-15 falls back in line with the rhythm of my heart. I do want to honor God.
Why am I sharing all of this with you? Well, I love honesty. I love sharing the real and the raw and the things that remind all of us that we are humans in need of a Savior. He’s the one who takes the time to jolt us out of the stupor and silences the echo of the serpents lies.
His grace is sufficient and He reminds us of what is important.
I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating – the ones sitting right in front of me are my legacy. I have written books, spoken in front of people, taught many students. And I know that God is not finished with me yet. There is more of that to come. But none of it will leave the legacy God calls us to leave behind. If I do not pour into the ones right in front of me first, I am a fraud who has slapped Christ’s name to my ministry but only to camouflage the fact that I’m trying to lift my own name underneath it all.
In the end, people will forget my name.
The books I’ve written will become outdated and people will say, “Shanda who?”. But my kids will remember the words I’ve poured into them on those nights we sat around the table, or took a drive to soccer and talked about how to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds. It’s not about my name but the lessons I teach them that they will turn around and pass on to their kids. And above all, they will uphold the name of Christ and the legacy will continue because God is faithful.
Of all the things we chase in life, we should only want to be like Christ as we take up our cross and follow Him.
The serprent told Eve she could be like God, but for what?
So that she could take His place. When she chased her own desires she removed God from the throne of her heart and replaced Him with herself.
Does God want us to be like Him? Sure, He does. But the only right way to be like God is to follow the path Christ took as He carried His cross. We are EITHER trying to be like God by putting ourselves on His throne, OR we are trying to be like Christ and upholding the name of the King of Kings. That is the legacy our hearts should run after.
And if you’re like me and your wheels spin out of control at times, ask yourself the show stopping question, “Does this honor God?” He is faithful to help get you back on track and leave the legacy that matters. People might not know your name. But your family will remember the name you told them to uphold – the name of Christ. And that, my friend, will last forever.
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When so many people – especially women- are trying to be “significant” by having a well known ministry, this is a refreshing reminder for my own soul – and flesh – that’s it’s not about me and it’s all by His grace. If people never know me, thank goodness because the world needs nothing I’ve got – they need all of Him. Thank you!
Thank you for reading, Rebecca. I’m so thankful God nudges us by His spirit along the way to redirect our focus to Him. He is good and we all need these reminders ever now and again.