My heart’s cry as I delve into the ministry God has placed before me is, “More of you and less of me God.” I don’t want to care what other people think. I don’t want to check my web site and facebook repeatedly to see how many people have “liked” a blog post or commented. I don’t want insecurity or doubt to make me less effective in the role God has given me. I want this to be about God. I want people to see God working through me and not see me. I don’t want the glory I want God to be glorified.
But in my humanness I struggle to make all of the above a reality. It shouldn’t matter who comments, or how many likes, or how often I am booked to speak, or how many people attend a workshop. But honestly, sometimes - too many times - I let it matter. And suddenly it becomes about me. I take my eyes off God for just a moment and lose focus. Paul writes in Romans 7:15, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” I understand his lament all too well.
John 3:30 says, “He must become greater; I must become less.” John the Baptist was speaking of his own ministry decreasing as Jesus’s earthly ministry grew. Personalizing that in my own life means striving to truly make my life less about me and more about God. It means giving God 110% of the credit for all that he has accomplished in my life. It means staying humble in the face of compliments and applause. It means truly serving with right motives and with a servant heart.
I want humility to become second nature not just in my ministry but in all areas of my life. And frankly, I would rather choose humility than be humbled because of my foolish pride. Matthew 23:12 says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 & James 4:6 echo this verse.
All of my talents and gifts were created by God, given by God and are to be used by God and for God. I have a certain number of days in which to use what God has given me to make an eternal difference. The late, great Erma Bombeck once said, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? And where do you need less of you and more of God?