This is a guest post by Seth Farrior who is a friend and colleague of mine. Seth is one of the ministers at Seacoast Church and oversees our Internet Campus. Seth has a knack for being able to drill down to the heart of an issue and I think you’ll enjoy his insightful post. You can follow Seth on Twitter at @SethFarrior or check out the Internet Campus at http://seacoast.churchonline.org/.
There has always been something in me to feel significant. I have to do something that is big and makes a difference. I have spent most of my life striving after success, fame, popularity, money, and when I got it then I could do some great things. As I became a Christian years ago, I felt the same way but then the “great things” changed a little. You know winning souls and stuff like that. So I started reading the Bible, praying, joining small groups. I changed so much. The anger was gone. The rough edges were starting to get smooth. I treated people differently. No matter how much I grew and helped people, I never felt like I was getting ahead. And where were the fruit and blessings for doing good? Why did some people have more money? They seemed to have more friends and take more vacations. Why was it that some of them seem to have risen to the top of the leadership circles when they were just rude to people in one on one settings? Of course there are many answers but I am a good person. Why not me? How much more do I have to do to show God that I can be trusted with more people to help, money to manage, or anything else? I have found different ways to make sense of it in my head but then I read Luke 4:5-8 and it clicked.
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Luke 4:5-8 NIV
Do you want to know why good people don’t “succeed”? It is because we are expecting the wrong rewards, the wrong fruit and we use the wrong measuring stick. I wanted what the Devil has and was striving for what he tempted Jesus with! I wanted that authority and splendor. Even while I am doing good things for Gods Kingdom, I can still base my success and failures by what Satan says is the prize I should be striving for… authority and splendor. It wasn’t until I started questioning all of my motives for everything that I could really see it.
Here is an example: One of my Strength Finders top five results is Significance. I have to do something that makes a difference with my life. Why? Because I want to help people. Why? Because I want people to be better off because I lived. Why? I want to be known as someone who is known for making others better. How many “others” is enough? Two in a life time or does it need to be a lot more? A lot more, I wouldn’t say only helping 2 people would be enough. Why do you need to do a lot more? Because I need to feel needed.
And there it is. At the root of something good like making a significant difference, is the selfish need of feeling wanted and needed. Why do you really need money? Why do you really need friends? Why do you really need to be a leader? I mean at the core of it, why do you need it? These things are not bad things at all! In fact some of these are ways that God blesses you and uses you for His Kingdom. As soon as you do not need them to define your worth, value or success, is when God can give them to you and use them as blessings. God has the right to give authority and splendor to whomever He wants. Satan has been given authority to hand them out as well. Striving after Satan’s fills your own selfish needs and desires. This way will always leave you empty and needing more. Not to mention you get mad at others whom you feel are keeping you from getting it. When you give them over to God is when He can show you just how much He loves you and then you are truly ready to be a good steward of His gifts.
