There’s nothing wrong when we open ourselves to the world and we tell people what it is we like. That gives people a glimpse of who we are and at the same time, we meet kindred spirits in the process. I happen to like a wide range of things from hobbies, fashion, art, languages, traveling and things I like to do with my family and friends. However, there are times when people exceedingly self-promote and we can have social media as society’s primary enabler to engage in this litany of end-time behaviors, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant…” (2 Timothy 3:2).
The flesh has this innate desire to be recognized, esteemed and bask in the accolades of men. The moment you find yourself gravitating to this fleshly tendency, remember Jesus Christ, God incarnate, who humbled himself in the form of a man, the only Potentate, King of all Kings who came to serve rather than be served, who is worthy of ALL praise but was abased, mocked and spit upon.
Imagine and think who it is you’re mirroring when you overly promote and exalt yourself.
Ezekiel 28:12-17 (ESV)
12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:
“You were the signet of perfection,[a]
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire,[b] emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.[c]
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you;[d] you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you,[e] O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I exposed you before kings,
to feast their eyes on you.
The adversary got so puffed up by his beauty that it ultimately became his downfall. Do not make the same mistake he did by focusing so much on yourself that you forget to give glory to the One who was despised so that you can live the abundant life (John 10:10). Whatever it is God gifted you with, created you to be good at and your influence (Matthew 25:14-30), He entrusted you with those so that you could outwardly shine His presence in you. Don’t let a minute of vainglory rob God’s glory.
No one is immune to this but as redeemed believers in Jesus Christ, we have the helper, the Holy Spirit, our spiritual sensor who keeps us in check.
“But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NKJV)
Father,
In Jesus’ name, Help us to remember our place.
Help us to be humble and free us from any form of selfish and vain conceit.
Help us to remember that our utmost priority is to give glory to You, and You alone.
For without your empowerment, we are nothing.
Apart from abiding in You, we can do nothing.
We thank You that Your mercy and lovingkindness endures forever.
Amen
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