Monday Memo 893: Self-Promotion 4
This week we conclude our discussion of self-promotion, attempting to define what it is and if and when it is appropriate.
TWO THOUGHTS
The two thoughts are really passages we want to look at. The first is something Jesus said:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
Jesus seemed to have no problem with someone letting their light shine for the glory of God. That is the challenge, for you may be asking "How do I know if I am glorifying God? What if I am glorifying self?" For that answer, let's go to something Paul wrote as he reflected on people who were self-promoting in the work of the gospel:
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18a, emphasis added).
There you have it: Paul did not care about the motives, only that the work of preaching the gospel was being done.Paul was looking at the bottom line or the results, and he was not going to correct someone's motives, thus hindering the good work they were doing from the wrong incentive. Others were being helped and it seems that God was using the less-than-perfect motives of the worker to get Kingdom results in people's lives. If that was good enough for Paul, it should be good enough for you and me.
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW
You should self-promote not for your benefit but for the benefit of those who are seeking who you are, what you have, and what God has empowered you to do. If you can pray and people are healed, then healed people need to know the Lord gave you the gift of healing. If you can write, then let others know you can, for someone reading your book or article may be helped and transformed through your story or ideas.
If you have died in Christ and belong to Him, then your gift, purpose, and role in society are not your choice or call. If God wants to make you a household name, it's none of your business. There are some members of the body who are created to be behind the scenes, but there are some who are made to be public figures. If you are private or public, your life is not your own. It belongs to God and therefore to others.
Let's get over any false humility that says, "If God or anyone needs me, they can come find me. I'm not going to help them by self-promoting, for that is not spiritual or proper." I say, "Get over it!" and let's allow all those who need to see who we are and what we do to find us more easily and without the guilt or accusation of "self-promotion" that can go with that process. It's time to stand up and say, "This is who I am!" Will you join me or continue to hide your light under a bushel, only to then complain that no one takes you seriously? Whether you can join me or not, I pray you will have a blessed week as you continue to ponder this important issue.