The children gathered inside their rough shelter. Though slapped together with scrap lumber and plywood, their clubhouse was a tight and sturdy structure. And comfortable, too, thanks to the carpet remnants covering the dirt floor. The clubhouse served them well as the site for games, sharing secrets, and just plain hiding out.
It was during a time of quiet hiding that the idea of official rules was proposed. They were a club, after all. An organization with a purpose. Rules were expected. So after short deliberation, the club established three comprehensive rules:
1) Nobody act big.
2) Nobody act small.
3) Everybody act medium.
Everybody act medium. Isn’t that great? Big. Small. Medium. Isn’t that just like kids? Wisdom we could all adopt for our “clubs.”
Because we know people who act big—people who focus the attention on themselves. They brag. They correct. They cop an attitude. They want to win you over. Most often, people who use bravado are convinced you will like them—will want to be with them, and be like them—once you understand how smart or strong or talented they are.
But the sad fact is, these are the people you want to see fail.
God knows this is our human reaction. So He warns, Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips (Proverbs 27:2 NLT). That’s acting medium…letting someone else praise you.
Acting small—thinking you’re not good enough—should also be banned in our clubs. Small act-ers make excuses that keep them from becoming the people God intended them to be. They say, “But I’m not pretty enough/smart enough/talented enough” or “I don’t have the right name in this town.” They stay small with their excuses.
And sometimes misinterpretation of Scripture leads people to act small. Jesus often warned about the dangers of self-promotion. In Luke 14:11 He said, All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great.
A person might take to heart just a small part of the verse, make themselves humble, and put on a cover of wretchedness in order to be humble. But no one is unworthy to God. Taking an attitude of not being good enough dishonors our Creator.
The Scripture is also misinterpreted when it is manipulated. When a person claims all who make themselves humble will be made great as a promise for this world, humility is misused. This person is seeking the recognition of man. When you consider God has something far greater for us, that is acting pretty small. God wants to be the One who makes you great. That’s acting medium…letting God give your humble work recognition.
God calls us to be medium people: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3 – 4 NLT).
So, what does it take to be a medium person? Three things:
1) Be yourself. Be the person God made you to be (if you don’t know, ask Him). Be genuine; be sincere. Don’t be a phony. Be transparent and willing to take risks. Are you shy? Take a risk and introduce yourself to others. Do you cry easily? Let people see your tears. Are you having a hard time? Share it with someone. Let someone help you carry the burden.
2) Be willing to be less of yourself. If you have outstanding talent, step aside. Let someone else have the glory. And then be their greatest cheerleader.
3) Be willing to be more of yourself...in Christ. Let more of Jesus shine through you. What would that look like? It would be an aura of patience and kindness, but not jealousy or boasting or pride or rudeness. It would allow others to have their way. It would not be irritable and would not keep tally of wrongs. It would not celebrate injustice, but rejoice when truth triumphs. It would never give up, never lose faith, would always be hopeful. It would endure through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7 paraphrase). Being more of yourself in Christ is letting the love of Jesus shine through.
No comments:
Post a Comment